In the News
Maine Voices: Gov. LePage fails leadership test when it comes to job creation
… “We can no longer afford to pass up any economic opportunity for our state.” That’s a quote from a June 11 Portland Press Herald Maine Voices column by John Butera, an economic policy adviser to Gov. LePage. He’s right. However, the LePage administration isn’t practicing what it’s preaching. For a year and a half,...
Teacher-training veto overturned
… Capping this year’s session, legislators on Thursday overturned Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a teacher-training bill and upheld three other vetoes by the governor. The House and Senate both cleared the two-thirds majority to push through scholarships for teachers seeking National Board Certification and salary stipends for those who do. … Click here to read...
LePage vetoes teacher training bill
… Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, who sponsored the bill, said in a statement that LePage is making a political issue of a proposal that has strong bipartisan support in the Legislature and makes an investment in better public schools.”Teachers are the foundation for a successful public education and we know that the most effective teachers...
Governor’s religious school funding bill rejected by House
… Democrats were glad to see the school choice bill put on hold. “The committee agreed that he put forth complex public policy and we didn’t have time to vet it,†said Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland. “We felt it was more appropriate to go after the data and facts we need in order to do...
In the Arena: Nutting & Alfond
AUGUSTA -Â The finish line is fast approaching for the 125th Maine Legislature. Speaker of the House Robert Nutting and Sen. Justin Alfond, the assistant Democratic leader in the Senate go In The Arena with Pat Callaghan to talk about budgets, bonds, education and more. They also discuss today’s Supreme Court decision not to answer...
Municipal revenue sharing bill passed through committee
AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill that would adjust the formula for how the state distributes money to municipalities passed through the Legislature’s Taxation Committee this week. LD 1835, sponsored by Assistant Senate Minority Leader Justin Alfond, D-Portland, affects the Disproportionate Tax Burden Fund, commonly known as “revenue sharing 2.†Currently, all municipalities receive a set...
