Michael Shepherd

Staff Writer

Latest

Published
May 6, 2013

Bill to strengthen Clean Election Act sails through legislative hearing

No one at a legislative hearing Monday opposed a bill that would strengthen the Maine Clean Election Act, which was weakened last year.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t powerful opposition, however. Gov. Paul LePage’s spokeswoman has called the law “welfare for politicians.”
Published
May 6, 2013

No opposition to strengthening Clean Election Act surfaces at hearing

The LePage administration, however, has made it known that it considers taxpayer funding for candidates to be ‘welfare for politicians.’
Published
May 3, 2013

Marijuana legalization bill supported by civil liberties groups, opposed by law enforcement

AUGUSTA — A legislative committee began hearing testimony on a marijuana legalization bill, L.D. 1229, Friday that’s supported by civil liberties groups, but opposed by an odd coupling of law-enforcement and medical-marijuana interests.
Published
May 3, 2013

Disparate interests testify against Maine bill to legalize pot

The broad measure, sponsored by a Portland representative, would allow people 21 and older to possess 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana and six plants.
Published
May 2, 2013

Maine committee endorses gun-show background checks

The committee also shoots down a Republican bill that would allow Mainers to carry concealed weapons without permits.
Published
May 1, 2013

Plan to reform state tax structure meets with lukewarm response, criticism

A bipartisan plan unveiled Wednesday that would overhaul Maine’s tax structure met with a lukewarm response from top politicians, as well as criticism from interest groups who stand to win or lose from the proposed income and sales tax changes.
Published
May 1, 2013

Maine tax code overhaul gets tepid response

Several critics attack the sweeping proposal as too similar to a reform plan overturned by voters in 2010.
Published
April 30, 2013

Panel recommends bill on weapons used in violent crimes

Legislators weighing control proposals Tuesday rejected four bills and recommended just one.
Published
April 30, 2013

Maine panel rejects 10-round limit for gun magazines

It also rejects a Democratic bill that would have allowed businesses to bar employees from bringing guns to work.
Published
April 30, 2013

Payment to Maine hospitals slowed?

Lawmakers’ linking of debt payment and Medicaid expansion could delay repayment of millions owed, a lobbyist says.