Legislators are taking a break this school vacation week but
the Appropriations Committee is beginning several weeks of hearings on the
2016-2017 State Budget.
SESSION
Senate & House Sessions – None
LEGISLATION
As of today 427 bills have been printed.
www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_127th/billtexts/
Ideas for new laws include:
· Resolve, To Study the Design and Implementation
of Options for a Universal Health Care Plan in the State (LD 384)
· An Act To Encourage the Use of Alternatives to
Single-use Plastic Disposable Bags (LD 396)
TAX PLAN GETS REVIEWED IN BUDGET HEARINGS
Hearings get underway today (2/17) on the 2016-2017 State
Budget including Governor LePage’s plan for tax relief, tax reform, municipal
revenue sharing reduction, allowing municipalities to tax large nonprofits, and
various other significant provisions that intended to change some long-standing
ways of raising and spending revenue. NFIB Maine plans to inform lawmakers of
preliminary support for tax relief but opposition to sales tax increases or
expansion to services – and that NFIB members will weigh in next month with
their views on the Governor’s overall tax plan.
Budget documents can be found here:
Income and estate tax changes (Parts J & K) will be
heard at 1 p.m. today in Room 228 of the State House. Sales tax changes will be heard next Monday,
the 23rd, at 10 a.m. in Room 228.
The detailed agenda for the next two weeks can be found
here:
www.maine.gov/legis/ofpr/appropriations_committee/schedule_agendas/index.htm
Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes and must sign up in
advance. Instructions on the process can
be found here:
www.maine.gov/legis/ofpr/appropriations_committee/materials/index.htm
LOOKING AHEAD
Later this month NFIB Maine will hold its annual legislative
breakfast in Augusta. Details and online
registration can be found here:
www.nfib.com/event/maine-2015-legislative-day-in-augusta/
KEY WEBSITES
Governor – www.maine.gov/governor
Legislature – http://legislature.maine.gov
