Politics & Co.
Lawmakers hit a budget snag that occurred far beyond their statutory adjournment date and put a bill claiming $6 million in sales tax increases onto Gov. Paul LePage's desk. The measure could encounter a gubernatorial veto, which would drive lawmakers to make more budget adjustments when they reconvene and add to the record-breaking number of vetoes — 83 — that LePage has issued this session. Lawmakers upheld 78 of those vetoes and overturned five in a session heavy with partisan battles. That divisiveness will likely linger through the summer and fall, as lawmakers remain split on how to approach 24 bond proposals before the appropriations committee.
Something borrowed
Democrats want those 24 bonds, which include a $100 million transportation proposal, culled and bundled into a single borrowing proposal to go before voters in November. As the session came to a close, Republicans argued that the bond measures should be handled separately, staking out ground in a debate that will culminate this fall when legislators reconvene to consider the issue.
Money games
Candidates in the race for governor cleared their first fundraising reporting deadline in mid-July. So far, candidates have raised over $1 million collectively. LePage, who formed a campaign committee early last year, had raised $340,000 by the reporting deadline. Independent candidate Eliot Cutler raised $449,000 with fundraising efforts beginning in earnest in April. Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, who began fundraising in June, raised $313,530 in the 17 days prior to the July 15 reporting deadline. (Engage with an interactive chart that shows gubernatorial race donations by town and state at mainebiz.biz/govrace.)
Moving up
State Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall resigned his seat in early July after his appointment as regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Now Allagash Sen. Troy Jackson will move up to the leadership spot. Sen. Anne Haskell of Portland will become the assistant majority leader, the position Jackson held previously. Prior to his election as majority leader, Jackson was the subject of strong personal criticism from LePage, who told reporters during a press conference that Jackson had a “black heart” and used a sexually vulgar phrase to characterize Jackson's record of public service.
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