The bill, sponsored by a Republican senator, is a response to the governor’s decision to withhold bonds from a state conservation program as leverage with lawmakers. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A bill that would force Gov. Paul LePage to sell voter-approved bonds received strong bipartisan support in Read More
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Fate of Land Bond Money Still Uncertain
WCSH-6 TV news story AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — A collection of conservation and other groups again Thursday called on Gov. Paul LePage to release money for land protection that was approved by Maine voters. More than $11 million for the Land for Maine’s Future program was passed in statewide bond issue voters in 2010 Read More
Maine House and Senate Approve Bill to Force Governor to Release Bonds
By A.J. Higgins MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine – Pressure is mounting on Gov. Paul LePage to release more than $11 million in voter-approved conservation bonds. Thursday morning, a coalition of land conservation groups rallied in support of projects they say could collapse as the result of the governor’s refusal to authorize the bonds unless Read More
Legislature Gives Veto-proof Approval to Bill that would Force LePage to Issue Bonds
By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage’s blockage of voter-approved bonds, which he has used several times during his tenure in attempts to force his will on the Legislature, received significant pushback Thursday when the Senate voted 26-9 and the House voted 102-48 for a bill Read More
70% of Maine Voters Support Proposed Bond to Reduce Heating Costs through Expanded Home Efficiency
NRCM news release Augusta, ME – As members of the Maine Legislature’s Appropriations Committee consider a variety of bond proposals to send to voters, a poll of likely voters shows fully 70% support a proposed $30 million bond to improve the energy efficiency of 30,000 Maine homes. LD 1341, sponsored by Senator Dawn Hill of Read More
NRCM Testimony in Support of LD 1341, An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Improve Maine’s Housing Stock and Reduce Heating Costs and Oil Consumption
Senator James Hamper, Chair Representative Peggy Rotundo, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations & Financial Affairs My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. There is widespread agreement that Maine should do more to lower Read More
Legislator Offers Deal to Resolve Land Bonds Standoff
The compromise would funnel money to both land conservation projects and Gov. LePage’s heating assistance program. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA – A House Democratic leader is trying to thaw the political freeze on the Land for Maine’s Future program by proposing a bond package to fund both land Read More
LePage’s Investigation of Land for Maine’s Future Would Be a Waste
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial At his rant-filled press conference Friday, Gov. Paul LePage said he was launching an investigation of the Land for Maine’s Future program. The governor has refused to sign off on bonds to fund projects that have already been approved by LMF, putting dozens of land conservation Read More
LePage: Stalling Conservation Bonds Helps ‘Poor’ in Battle with ‘Rich’
By John Swinconeck, The Times Record Times Record news story reprinted on bangordailynews.com BRUNSWICK, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Monday clarified the reasoning behind why he ordered an investigation into the Land for Maine’s Future program. “Just rumors. When you hear a lot of chatter, look into it,” said LePage, speaking after an assembly at Read More
