Steve Mistler

Portland Press Herald

Latest

Published
March 27, 2013

Maine Hospital Association backs Medicaid expansion

Jeff Austin, the association’s lobbyist, confirmed that the organization would support expansion, a key component of the federal health care law.
Published
March 27, 2013

House Democrats pass bill to hike minimum wage

The bill would increase the minimum wage to $9 an hour by 2016 and rise incrementally with inflation thereafter.
Published
March 26, 2013

Maine lawmakers spar over tanning ban for minors

The Democratic-backed bill could make Maine the fourth state to prohibit anyone under 18 from indoor tanning.
Published
March 26, 2013

Transparency group gives Maine a C- for public spending data

The grade is a notch above the ‘D-‘ it received in 2012 and follows Gov. Paul LePage’s creation of Maine Open Checkbook.
Published
March 25, 2013

Governor proposes legal defense fund for charter school board

The $1 million for legal defense of the Maine Charter School Commission would come out of aid to public schools.
Published
March 25, 2013

A trip into hostile budget territory, and two bills that may be a stretch

It’s been several years since the Legislature’s budget-writing committee held a public hearing outside of the State House. When that happened, lawmakers simply moved the proceedings across town to the Augusta Civic Center. On Monday, the committee will go a bit farther — about 80 miles north to Brewer. Distance isn’t the only difference between […]
Published
March 24, 2013

Legislature takes budget hearing on the road

On Monday, the Legislature’s budget-writing committee will hold a public hearing in Brewer; Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, proposes selling the Blaine House; Rep. Lawrence Lockman, R-Amherst, sponsors “straight-on-red” bill.
Published
March 21, 2013

Bowdoinham Democrat floats plan to raise taxes on Maine’s wealthy

AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s House Democratic leader is proposing a bill that he says will create “tax fairness” between Maine’s high earners and everyone else, a proposal that aligns with a national effort among Democrats to fill budget gaps by raising taxes on the wealthy.
Published
March 21, 2013

Income tax bill targets wealthiest in Maine

Rep. Seth Berry calls for a ‘fairness’ tax on some high earners to align their rate with what most Mainers pay.
Published
March 20, 2013

LePage seeks more federal funds for Medicaid

Maine says it will take part in wider eligibility if the Obama administration picks up the costs for 10 years.