New state office proposal revised
Lawmakers’ concerns about the powers of a proposed streamlining agency have led members of Gov. Paul LePage’s administration to revise the proposal. LePage last year said he wanted to eliminate the Maine State Planning Office and move some of its functions to a new agency.
The proposed Office of Policy Management would be charged with finding ways to save money in state government, as much as $1 million a year, as well as handle policy and program oversight. Several lawmakers, however, objected to its ability to subpoena other departments without court approval, according to the Sun Journal. The LePage administration has retooled the proposal so that judges have to approve subpoena requests. The governor’s office would oversee the agency, which has some lawmakers worried it would be too partisan.
The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee is scheduled to review the revision today. Other parts of the proposal are being reviewed as well, and the Legislature must vote on all pieces before it adjourns in April, according to the paper.
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