In the News
Maine lawmakers pass two-year budget; fate uncertain
… Senate President Justin Alfond, D-Portland, center speaks with Roger Sen. Katz, R-Augusta, right, and other senators during a session Thursday, June 13, 2013, at the State House in Augusta, Maine. The Maine Legislature on Thursday narrowly passed a $6.3 billion two-year state budget despite a veto threat by Gov. Paul LePage. … Click here...
BDN: Maine Senate supports moratorium on virtual public charter schools
AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill that would place a moratorium on the creation of virtual public charter schools in Maine passed through the Senate on Tuesday over objections that doing so would infringe on an already adequate approval process. LD 995, which was sponsored by Senate President Justin Alfond, D-Portland, would put a full moratorium...
MPBN: Democrats Want Delay in Maine Tax Cuts
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Democratic legislative leaders are calling for a delay in tax cuts enacted last session. They say the delay’s needed to balance a $6.3 billion, two-year budget without shifting tax increases to property taxpayers. Backed by about 50 Democratic lawmakers Wednesday, House Speaker Mark Eves and Senate President Justin Alfond said the...
KJ: Skills-gap bill wins unanimous support from Maine House
AUGUSTA — The Maine House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill Monday aimed at Maine’s so-called “skills gap,” developing Maine’s workforce with job-training initiatives. L.D. 90, sponsored by Senate President Justin Alfond, D-Portland, is an omnibus bill that would establish a uniform credit-transfer system between the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System,...
PPH: Democrats take steps against virtual Maine charter schools
On Monday, the committee voted to pass a moratorium on the authorization of virtual charter schools. The measure, sponsored by Senate President Justin Alfond, D-Portland, would prohibit creation of both full-time and for-profit virtual charter schools until the Maine Charter School Commission can draft and report out “best practices” for the schools. Alfond, who has...
BDN: Democrats stall teacher evaluation rules until LePage reveals education agenda
AUGUSTA, Maine — A week and a half of tension that began to mount last week with the release of an A-through-F grading system for public schools culminated Friday evening with Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen attacking Senate President Justin Alfond for delaying action on a sweeping teacher evaluation plan that has been under development for...
