Rachel Ohm

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Rachel Ohm

Jun. 17—AUGUSTA — A Republican effort to overturn the $11.3 billion baseline state budget approved in March won't move forward after organizers failed to gather enough signatures to send the measure to a referendum. Rep. Gary Drinkwater, R-Milford, the lead petitioner on the people's veto effort, said Tuesday night that proponents hadn't gathered the nearly 68,000 signatures of Maine voters needed ahead of a Wednesday deadline.

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Rachel Ohm

Jun. 17—AUGUSTA — Maine Republicans and opponents of the initiative that will go to voters this fall to make it easier to confiscate weapons from a person in crisis want to put another option on the ballot that would include changes to existing law and funding for mental health services. The proposal was unveiled Tuesday morning at a press conference hosted by Maine House Republicans.

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Rachel Ohm

Jun. 12—AUGUSTA — Lawmakers in the Maine House of Representatives gave initial approval Thursday to a bill prohibiting undetectable firearms and requiring serial numbers on firearms. The House advanced the bill on a 77-70 party-line vote, with Democrats in support and Republicans opposed. Similar bills have failed in previous Legislatures, but the latest push comes in the aftermath of the high-profile killing of a health care CEO in downtown Manhattan last year involving a so-called ghost gun.

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Rachel Ohm

Jun. 11—AUGUSTA — Activists gathered at the State House Wednesday afternoon for a public hearing on a fall ballot measure that could make it easier to temporarily take firearms away from people in crisis. Republican lawmakers and gun rights groups opposed to the citizens initiative demanded the hearing and threatened a lawsuit before Democrats agreed earlier this week to schedule the session. The hearing will focus on the proposed red flag law, also known as an extreme risk protection order.

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Rachel Ohm

Jun. 10—AUGUSTA — A proposal to protect children from online harassment and "doxxing" advanced in the Maine Legislature Tuesday. The bill would allow families to file a lawsuit or seek a protection from harassment order if a child is targeted. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives voted 78-69 in support, followed by the Senate voting 18-14 in support. It will face an additional round of votes before it could be sent to Gov. Janet Mills for her consideration.