AUGUSTA — The Appropriations Committee reviewed 90 bills today to decide which ones the state could afford to fund, and which ones it could not.

House Chairman Patrick Flood, R-Winthrop, said the committee was allotted $800,000 to spend on the bills. Democrats and Republicans split the pot evenly, and met for several hours in closed-door caucuses to decide how to spend the money.

When they came out for public votes, they voted to fund dozens of smaller ticket items and rejected others that were too costly. They also voted to carry over some bills until next year.

Bills approved included a measure to prohibit the sale of so-called bath salts, which are dangerous drugs recently being sold in Maine; a bill to raise the speed limit on I-95 from Old Town to Houlton to 75 mph; and a bill to promote the establishment of an adult day-care program for veterans in Lewiston.

The committee also voted in favor of a sales tax exemption for parts and supplies for windjammers and  a resolve to direct the commissioner of the state Department of Education to adopt a policy regarding the management of head injuries in youth sports.

Bills rejected because of their expense included a measure to exempt retired military pay from the state income tax; a bill to create a sales tax holiday for energy efficient appliances; an act to address the educational and rehabilitation needs of the blind or visually impaired; and an act to fund screening for cancer.
 

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