Maine Street Solutions

02/12/2021

As with just about everything else these days, the Maine Legislature has gone virtual. There are a lot of changes to navigate this year, so we've put together a step-by-step guide on how you can participate in the legislative process in this new era of Zoom public hearings.

https://www.mainestreetsolutions.com/how-to-participate-in-the-maine-legislature-in-the-virtual-era/

01/08/2021

As the 130th Maine Legislature begins its work this session, one of its biggest tasks will be to pass supplemental and biennial budgets. The Mills Administration today sent its proposed budgets to the Legislature for consideration. The highlights are:

-Fairly flat budgets with no increases in revenue or major cuts to programs & services
-A focus on combatting the COVID-19 pandemic by continuing to rebuild the State’s public health infrastructure and protecting essential health care and education services
-Although the State faces a projected $650 million revenue shortfall over the next three years, injections of federal funding, cost-cutting measures undertaken since the spring, and improved revenue projections have all helped the State prevent major budget cuts
-These budgets propose adding $61 million to the Budget Stabilization Fund, otherwise known as the Rainy Day Fund, which would bring the total in the fund to $320 million

Governor’s proposals focused on critical investments that bolster the State’s COVID-19 response while expanding savings Governor Janet Mills today submitted to the Legislature a supplemental budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2021 and a biennial budget proposal for Fiscal Years 2022-2023 that focus...

10/26/2020

Important information from Maine's Secretary of State - If you plan to return your absentee ballot by mail, please do it today or tomorrow. The USPS has guaranteed on-time delivery (by 8 pm Election Day) if your ballot is mailed out at least 7 days prior.

If you plan to return your absentee ballot by mail, please do it today or tomorrow. The USPS has guaranteed on-time delivery (by 8 pm Election Day) if your ballot is mailed out at least 7 days prior.

07/14/2020

It's Primary Day! Don't forget to cast your vote in-person or drop off your absentee ballot by 8 pm. You can find more information about voting in today's election here:
https://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/elections_faq.html

03/18/2020

Legislators and the Mills administration worked late into the night to pass emergency legislation to assist Mainers through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The House and Senate unanimously passed a $74M emergency supplemental budget to help address the public health crisis, in addition to legislation aimed at reducing the negative effects of coronavirus in Maine. These include:

- Temporarily expanding eligibility for unemployment benefits for workers impacted by COVID-19;

- Authorizing Governor Mills to prohibit utilities from terminating residential electric and water service;

- Establishing a consumer loan guarantee program through FAME, in partnership with financial institutions, to provide low- or no-interest loans for eligible people in Maine;

- Increasing the Department of Education’s ability to waive certain school-day requirements and to continue school meal programs for all children;

- Authorizing Governor Mills to adjust state, county and municipal government deadlines and to permit all public entities to meet by remote participation;

- Expanding the ability of Maine Emergency Medical Services’ Board and staff to take actions more promptly;

- Authorizing Governor Mills to determine and direct the manner of the June 2020 primary, if necessary;

- Delaying the effective date of the single-use plastic bag ban to January 15, 2021.

The full text of the emergency legislation can be found here: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0789&item=1&snum=129

And additional information about what the State of Maine is doing to address COVID19 can be found here: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/covid-19

A Message From Governor Janet Mills Time and again, Maine people have risen to the challenges put in front of us. We have survived blizzards, ice storms, depressions, booms and busts. We’ve suffered loss — as a state and as families. We have conquered them because we are a strong, resilient peop...

12/12/2019

Governor Mills has released the state’s new 10-year Economic Development Plan. Check it out!

Read the State’s New Economic Development Strategy Economic Development Strategy (PDF) The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development works with statewide and local partners, private industry and small businesses to enhance and sustain economic prosperity in Maine. LEARN MORE Maine is ...

11/28/2019

11/20/2019

Ever wonder where your bottles and cans go when you drop them in a reverse vending machine or bring them to a redemption center? Every year, TOMRA Collection facilitates the collection of over 40 billion empty drinking cans and bottles - WOW! Our friends at TOMRA recently showed Representative Ralph Tucker the entire system, from start to finish. We are excited to host another tour today with State Senator Brownie Carson and other members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

11/13/2019

We can't always promise our clients a photo with McDreamy, but every once in a while we pull it off! Seen here, our friends from
AmeriHealth Caritas with Patrick Dempsey at the recent Maine State Chamber of Commerce​ annual dinner. Thank you to the Chamber for putting together a wonderful event!

11/07/2019

Congratulations to everyone who prevailed on election day and thank you to everyone who ran, volunteering themselves for public service. Check out full results below!

An archive of Maine Election Central news from the Bangor Daily News. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries from the Bangor Daily News.

11/05/2019

We had a wonderful day yesterday visiting The Jackson Laboratory in beautiful Bar Harbor, Maine. Thank you to Senator Louie Luchini, Representative Kathleen Dillingham, Senator Dana Dow, Rep. Shawn A Babine, and Brian Hubbell: Maine House District 135 (not pictured) for joining us. Also pictured here are Leah Graham (far left), Government Relations Manager at The Jackson Laboratory and Billy Thompson (center), Chief of Staff for House Republicans.

We were all thoroughly impressed to learn about the cutting-edge Alzheimer's research that's taking place at JAX!