Dentists and franchisees lobby hard in Augusta
A group of dentists and franchisees walk into the State House….
What makes dentists cringe?
Debate over a bill to create a new “mid-level dental therapist” profession, able to take on some of the duties now reserved for licensed dentists, included public testimony from 151 people and generated strong opposition from groups representing dentists. Opponents of the bill argued that the University of New England's new dental school would help to alleviate the current shortage of dentists in the state in four to five years. Proponents of the bill said it would improve access to dental care in rural areas of the state. In a preliminary vote, the bill cleared the House by a 102–39 margin, with 10 absent, and the Senate in a 19–16 vote.
Franchising
A bill backed by a new interest group formed by Maine franchise owners was diverted to a study group before moving ahead in the Legislature after a vote in the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development. The 7–3 vote endorsed a recommendation to send the proposal to a seven-member committee to study the proposed protections for franchise owners, which supporters said will help protect franchisees' investments and keep franchise agreements fair. The bill has generated opposition from the Washington, D.C.-based International Franchise Association and testimony from the state's Department of Economic and Community Development expressing concern that the proposal “goes too far” and “will undoubtedly serve to discourage companies from selling franchise rights to entities within Maine.” See what Maine Franchise Owners Association founder Jim Coen has to say about his group and the bill at mainebiz.biz/franchisebill.
The $40M question
Democratic lawmakers on the Legislature's budget-writing committee last week recommended passage of a measure to tap the state's rainy day fund and tax relief to spare a $40 million cut to state revenue sharing with municipalities. After the vote with no Republican committee members present, Gov. Paul LePage promised to veto such a measure if it got to his desk.
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