AUGUSTA – The State House was quiet Friday as legislators, who had just finished work on a two-year state budget and scores of other bills, began a late-session break. But they will have plenty to do when they return to work later this month to wrap up business for the 2011 session.

After giving final approval to a $6.1 billion budget for the two years that start July 1, legislators debated a few more bills Thursday night before calling it quits until June 28.

The break is mainly to give legislative staffers time to catch up with paperwork, particularly the 80 or so bills that have been set aside until lawmakers decide whether they are worthy of the scarce funding that’s available. Those bills need amendments and other revisions before final votes can be taken on whether to fund them, a process that will take at least 48 hours of staff time, Senate President Kevin Raye said Friday.

Rather than have legislators milling about waiting for bills to trickle in, leaders sent them home Thursday.

“It seemed like a better use of time to let the people go home,” said Raye, a Republican from Perry, before setting out for his own home district in Washington County.

Besides taking up bills that Gov. Paul LePage could veto and those awaiting funding decisions, legislators will deal with two or three dozen pieces of legislation that have yet to be resolved.

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There were no indications Friday that LePage planned to veto any of the bills awaiting his review, or that he would reject the budget. His authority to invoke line-item veto power on budget provisions ended Friday afternoon because the law limits the time in which a governor can outline his or her objections.

Among the bills left to consider is one to authorize charter schools, an issue that has been lingering since last year’s gubernatorial campaign. LePage, Maine’s first Republican governor in 16 years, has taken a strong stand in favor of charter schools, which are set up to improve the performance of students who don’t do well in traditional schools.

A bill that awaits final action would allow no more than 10 public charter schools in the first 10 years. It also would limit the number of students who can attend them in the first three years, to protect smaller noncharter public schools.

In a pitch for charter schools Friday, LePage said he will sign the bill if it’s sent to him.

“This is about giving students choices in their education that will help them succeed,” LePage said. “Every student deserves an education that works for him or her, and public charter schools, which are approved and working in 40 other states, are one more way we can reach those children.”

Also awaiting final action is a bill to allow sales of fireworks. A measure that has preliminary House approval would create a regulatory framework for legal sales and use of so-called consumer fireworks, such as firecrackers, morning glories and other small explosives. The bill would take effect in September.

Another pending bill addresses the contentious issue of Canadian loggers working in Maine forests. It seeks income tax credits for logging companies that employ Maine residents. An amendment seeks credits instead for tax paid on fuel used for logging.

Those are in addition to the bills set aside to compete for a share of roughly $600,000 in funding. The Appropriations Committee plans to return Thursday to make preliminary decisions on what gets funded.

 


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