By Michael Shepherd - June 21, 2023
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Democrats move blockbuster bills to the floor and confront the governor. Wednesday is looking like a pivotal day for the Democratic-led Legislature, which is set to hold initial votes on at least four bills that are among the top priorities of party leaders. Each of them also come with some level of skepticism from Gov. Janet Mills, making the outcomes deeply uncertain.

Perhaps the most far-reaching bill of the bunch is a paid family and medical leave measure from Assistant Senate Majority Leader Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, and her House counterpart, Kristen Cloutier of Lewiston. They are looking to stave off a progressive referendum that is possible in 2024 by passing a package that would allow 12 weeks of leave with some concessions to the governor and business groups.

Mills had laid out a long list of proposed changes to the measure before that. The changes moved the measure closer to the governor's preferred version, but it is not going to win much Republican support. The Senate should easily advance the measure today, but watch to see if any Democrats defect.

The political calculus is far different on a tribal-rights bill from House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, that remains the most sweeping one left facing lawmakers this year. Mills is more dug in against this effort, which attempts to use state law to allow Maine tribes to benefit from federal laws by altering a landmark settlement.

This will be up for a House vote today. Assuming Talbot Ross can lock down all Democrats and the two independents caucusing with them, she will need 18 Republicans to lock down the two-thirds majority that would be needed in both chambers to override a Mills veto. Neither side looked confident on Wednesday morning, meaning the tribes are probably close to getting the votes.

Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, backed up Talbot Ross by indicating his support for the measure on social media Tuesday. Tribes are probably OK in the Senate, where Democrats and Sen. Rick Bennett, R-Oxford, have been staunch tribal-rights supporters. The House is the hurdle.

We will see the leaders' might on display in other ways as well, particularly Talbot Ross, who has failed so far to get strict gun control measures through the House. The chamber will vote Wednesday on her signature background check bill, which seems like a poor bet for passage given a no vote on a 72-hour waiting period bill.

Mills has generally opposed gun control during her tenure, and her administration suggested a stakeholder group instead of another Talbot Ross bill that would make minimum wage and overtime laws apply to farmworkers. It is opposed by industry groups, and it will get a vote today as well.