Emma Davis

2 weeks ago | mainemorningstar.com | Emma Davis

Citing Maine Morning Star’s reporting, Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine pressed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on conflicting statements about why it cut grants for forever chemical research in Maine.

2 weeks ago | mainemorningstar.com | Emma Davis

The only Maine police department that has contracted with federal authorities to assist with immigration enforcement is pausing its agreement to see if the Maine Legislature votes to ban such contracts. Wells Police Chief Jo-Ann Putnam announced Tuesday night during a Select Board meeting that her department is adopting a “wait-and-see approach” to credentialing its officers under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 287(g) program.

2 weeks ago | mainemorningstar.com | Emma Davis

The Maine Legislature is poised to undo a decision it made last year to join a pact that presents an eventual path to do away with the Electoral College. The Maine House of Representatives passed legislation, LD 252, on Tuesday that would repeal the decision, but did so after some Democratic members first attempted to buck a committee recommendation and reject it. While the bill is sponsored solely by Republicans, it has been backed by some Democrats in committee and floor votes.

2 weeks ago | mainemorningstar.com | Emma Davis

As health care providers warn of depleted funds hampering services, the Maine Legislature appears poised to close off a path that would make already allocated Medicaid funding available sooner. With a 93-50 vote on Tuesday, the Maine House of Representatives failed to reach the two-thirds support needed to enact an emergency measure. The contents of this bill are already law. The funding was included in the two-year budget passed in March.

2 weeks ago | mainemorningstar.com | Emma Davis

As some communities in Maine have clashed over local police contracting with federal immigration authorities, legislators are pushing for new state laws that would make those decisions universal. On Monday, dozens of people packed the Maine Legislature’s Judiciary Committee room, spilling into two overflow rooms, to testify largely in support of two bills proposed by Democrats that would restrict local authorities from carrying out federal immigration enforcement.