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| 📷 Rep. Sawin Millett, R-Waterford, is pictured in the House chamber at the Maine State House in Augusta on June 30, 2021. (BDN photo by Troy R. Bennett) |
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📻 A veteran Republican budget negotiator tries to keep talks on track.
◉ Rep. Sawin Millett, R-Waterford, one of the Legislature's leading dealmakers and a member of the budget committee, used the weekly Republican radio address on Friday to respond to our coverage of the possibility that Democrats could pass a two-year budget by a simple majority.
◉ That is far from a done deal, as noted in Friday's Daily Brief. Millett's caucus has been more hopeful than Senate Republicans that a bipartisan deal can be reached, and he said he hoped Democrats do not go it alone.
◉ "Like most of my Republican colleagues, I am here to seek solutions and solve problems," Millett said. "We highlight differences and vote accordingly when necessary."
◉ There are plenty of questions remaining on the budget. If Democrats are going to run a majority budget, they would effectively to start preparing it this week. The budget committee has scheduled regular votes on Monday and Tuesday, but it has "TBD" on the loose agenda for the rest of the week.
🪖 This bipartisan coalition is behind a "defend the Guard" bill.
◉ A far-reaching Maine bill that is getting attention from national libertarians would prohibit National Guard members here from being called to serve in overseas conflicts not subject to a congressional war declaration.
◉ These types of "defend the Guard" bills have been recently introduced across the country. The last one here came in 2011. None have been passed, but the Arizona Senate recently advanced the idea there.
◉ This year's measure is from Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, who has cobbled together a mix of co-sponsors from across the political spectrum, including progressive Reps. Ben Collings, D-Portland, and Maggie O'Neil, D-Saco. It has a public hearing at 1 p.m. Watch it. |
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What we're reading
🏢 We go inside the "housing first" model that Mills wants to take statewide.
💰Political disagreements are behind Bangor's COVID-19 aid inaction.
⛺ Bangor's "Tent City" threatens an inn's transition to affordable housing.
🧠 A hospital tries to ease Maine's psychiatric crisis with an expansion.
☕ A Ukrainian coffee roaster brings nuanced beans to Camden. Here's your soundtrack. |
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