Lawmakers were given a way out of the impasse that has kept them out of Augusta for more than a month, but they may have to wrestle with a battery of child welfare reforms from Gov. Paul LePage.
The LePage administration is making a disputed claim that Question 1 would hit married couples twice with a new tax. It’ll be settled by the attorney general, but it’s a key issue in the debate for now.
The Maine Ethics Commission will decide this week whether a court order was enough to release clean election funding or if legislative approval is still needed.
Republican Eric Brakey and Democrat Zak Ringelstein debated without the incumbent on Thursday, but they face an uphill challenge given the senator’s popularity and Maine’s history.
The governor wants the paralyzed Legislature to consider child welfare bills, tax conformity and a bill aimed at shielding elderly Mainers from municipal foreclosure.
We may learn today if Gov. Paul LePage’s administration will release roughly $1 million in taxpayer funding for campaigns or appeal a judge’s order. Uncertainty remains for candidates.