AUGUSTA – Despite Gov. Paul LePage’s differences with lawmakers over the state budget, Medicaid expansion and other issues, he’s staying busy signing dozens of bills sent to him by the Democratic-majority Legislature.
Lawmakers face a statutory deadline June 19 to finish work on a two-year budget, but have been at odds over tax cuts and other issues in the 2014-15 spending package. They also are divided over the expansion of Medicaid, or MaineCare, to 70,000 more residents.
While those thorny issues loom, lawmakers are sending stacks of bills covering a broad range of topics to the Republican governor’s desk, and most are quietly being signed.
A recently signed measure will exempt active-duty military members, stationed outside of the United States but home on leave, from having to take a hunter safety course to obtain a hunting license.
Another bill signed recently will allow municipalities to prohibit sex offenders from living within 750 feet of state-owned property that’s leased to a nonprofit organization for use as a park, athletic field or recreational facility that’s open to the public.
Other newly signed bills touch on issues ranging from liquor licensing to tidal power regulation and seaweed management.
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