Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

When they return May 15, lawmakers will need to deal with 73 pending bills, quite a bit more work than a simple budget vote.

In addition to the Department of Health and Human Services budget, there are 48 bills on the Appropriations Table. That means they've gotten almost all the way through the process, but they cost money, so they need an additional OK from the Appropriations Committee before they go back to the Senate for a final vote.

Those bills include:

L.D. 849, which proposes to reduce the income tax to 4 percent over a period of time

L.D. 1237, a bill to prohibit bullying and cyberbullying in schools

L.D. 1469, a measure to allow charitable fraternal and veterans' organizations to have slot machines

L.D. 1840, a bill that limits MaineCare reimbursement for methadone treatment

In recent years, many of the bills that have ended up on the Appropriations Table have been killed by the committee. Lawmakers often find creative ways to avoid having them end up there because they know the odds aren't in their favor. Time will tell if this year's crop of bills meet a different fate.

About the Author

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Open Season targets all of Maine's political wildlife, from Portland city government to the donkeys, elephants and independents stalking the Statehouse and U.S. Capitol.

John Richardson joined the Press Herald in 1990 after working as a reporter in New Jersey. He has covered a variety of beats, including marine issues, the environment and health care. He is now covering politics and focusing on Maine's U.S. Senate race.
John can be reached at 791-6324 or jrichardson@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @jrichmaine

Colin Woodard has covered politics and elections for more than two decades, from Bosnia and Bucharest to Washington, D.C., Augusta, and Portland City Hall. He has written for a wide range of national and international publications and is the author of four books, including "American Nations," a history of North America's regional cultures. He joined the Portland Press Herald at the end of April and covers political finance and lobbying, among other things.
Colin can be reached at 791-6317 or cwoodard@pressherald.com

Susan Cover has covered Maine politics for 10 years and worked in Kansas, Ohio and Rhode Island as a reporter. This year, she is focusing on covering the same-sex marriage debate for MaineToday Media.
Susan can be reached at 621-5643 or scover@mainetoday.com

Michael Shepherd joined MaineToday Media in May 2012 after graduating from the University of Maine in Orono, where he edited The Maine Campus, the student newspaper there. Until November he'll be writing the Truth Test, a recurring feature analyzing political statements and advertising.
Michael can be reached at 621-5632 or mshepherd@mainetoday.com

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