Friday, February 8, 2008

The Augustan: Friday, February 8, 2008

Governor Baldacci's proposed merger of the departments of Agriculture, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Conservation, and Marine Resources is facing very strong opposition.

Revenue shortfall may actually reach $200 million, so tax increases may be on the table to balance budget.

LD 2188 would redraw the boundary lines between Old Orchard Beach and Saco.

Dozens protested proposed cuts to Department of Health and Human Services.

Two out-of-state plane owners are suing the state over tax bills on planes bought outside Maine. Leglislative bill that would exempt non-residents from the sales tax on airplanes bought elsewhere is introduced by Senate President.

Speaker of the House proposes bill that would transfer $5 million from the state's rainy day fund to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

PPH: The new state wetlands conservation program is a good one.

M.D. Harmon profiles the Maine Public Spending Research Group and the Alliance for Maine's Future.

Steve Weems: Plum Creek proposal is a bad deal for Maine and its people.

Maine Department of Environmental Protection: Complaints about soot coming from Red Shield Environmental LLC were unsubstantiated.

Task force examining permissable uses on state's public lands unveiled a list of recommendations.

BDN: Legislature must restructure the state's electricity system this legislative session.

Proposed bill would make Maine the first state to ban most uses of incandescent light bulbs.

City of Augusta borrowed street salt from the state.

Department of Conservation may increase the number of lakes in its jurisdiction to maintain buoys.

Representative Koffman: LD 2073 would greatly reduce the risk of drinking water being contaminated by oil.

Merck & Co. will pay Maine's Medicaid program about $2.2 million to settle claims it overcharged government health programs for four of its drugs and for bribing doctors to prescribe its drugs.

Maine Supreme Judicial Court denied an appeal by Frye Island that the island should be free from support education costs in SAD 6.

Maine House of Representatives rejected a measure requiring parental consent for birth control prescriptions to be heard, 75-67.

The Maine Board of Environmental Protection unanimously approved new permits for two mills and a hydroelectric dam on the Androscoggin River.

- John C.L. Morgan

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