Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

Michael Shepherd

Latest Articles by Michael Shepherd

May 20, 2013

LePage: Let's eliminate Maine income tax

The governor says he'll focus on that effort if the people of Maine re-elect him to a second term, but he won't support the current bipartisan plan to cut the tax in half.

May 20, 2013

Enhanced early voting? Maine a few votes short

The bill passed overwhelmingly, 90-50, but it still fell shy of the two-thirds majority it will need to go to a voter referendum.

May 19, 2013

State House Notebook: Republicans try to debunk Medicaid savings claim

Also: Gun-show bill remains in the Senate.

May 19, 2013

Study claims huge savings under MaineCare expansion

An oft-cited study by the Kaiser Family Foundation claims Maine would save $690 million over the next 10 years if Medicare is expanded nationwide; the fate of a bill designed to stop private sales of guns if buyers aren’t screened for prior criminal activity remains unknown; a “first-of-its-kind” work force bill gets kudos from Democrats and Republicans alike; and Democrats’ vague, conceptual alternative to LePage’s A-to-F grading system for Maine schools gets heard this week.

May 17, 2013

LePage to Democrats: Act now, or bankrupt DHHS

But Democrats accuse the department of mismanagement and say they won't approve funds until Commissioner Mary Mayhew answers 'tough questions.'

May 17, 2013

Maine panel rejects abortion-related bills

The ACLU cheers the legislative panel's votes on measures aimed at 'chipping away' at rights.

May 17, 2013

Maine groups support universal pre-K

Educators testify in favor of a bill that aims for pre-kindergarten in all Maine districts by 2017.

May 16, 2013

Abortion legislation draws passionate testimony Thursday

Maine legislators Thursday heard arguments for and against three separate bills that would change the laws regarding consent, information and limits of legal abortions in the state.

May 16, 2013

Maine abortion measures bring out passions

Testimony continues into the evening on bills proposed by lawmakers opposed to abortion.

May 15, 2013

Maine panel opposes guns for school employees

But four members of the public safety committee were absent, and they still could vote on the measure.