GOP head pitches Efficiency Maine fix, with catch
House Republican Leader Ken Fredette is sponsoring a bill that would restore $38 million to Efficiency Maine but would also transfer oversight of the group to Gov. Paul LePage’s office.
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network reported that the issue originally began with a clerical error in a 2013 law that determines Efficiency Maine’s funding, and that it has since turned into a partisan battle. Fredette and three other Republican leaders on the Legislative Council rejected the introduction of a Democrat’s bill last week that would have restored funding with the addition of one word, “and,” that was originally meant to be included in the 2013 law.
The Maine Public Utilities Commission voted last month to interpret the 2013 law strictly as it was written without the word, which was not as lawmakers intended, resulting in the funding cut.
Fredette told the public radio station that lawmakers need to craft a bill that would get through a Democratic House, a Republican Senate and LePage. He said LePage supports his bill, which would restore the missing word. The bill also would create new cabinet-level positions for an energy commissioner and deputy energy commissioner. In addition, it would require Efficiency Maine’s executive director position to be appointed by LePage. That position would have to report to the new cabinet-level positions.
Source: Maine Public Broadcasting Network
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