Augusta, ME

Under the Dome: Inside the Maine State House provides a high-level overview of recent activity at the Maine State House.

Public Hearings on Governor’s Tax Reform Proposal Complete

This week, the Appropriations and Financial Affairs and Taxation Committees completed their joint public hearings on the Governor’s tax reform package. These multi-day hearings focused on individual components of the tax package and did not lend themselves to an overall discussion of the entire package. The package now heads to the Taxation Committee where it will be reviewed in its entirety. The Taxation Committee will work throughout March to produce a set of recommendations related to the package that will be provided to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee for that Committee’s review of the proposal.

Governor Renominates Four Judges

This week, Governor LePage renominated four judges to their seats. This includes Judges Richard Mulhern and Patricia Worth to serve an additional term on the District Court; Justice Michaela Murphy to serve an additional term on the Superior Court; and Justice Ellen Gorman to serve an additional term on the Law Court. These nominations will proceed to the Judiciary Committee before being considered by the full Maine Senate.

Governor Nominates Brian Whitney as President of Maine Technology Institute

This week, Governor LePage nominated Brian Whitney to serve as President of the Maine Technology Institute (“MTI”). MTI provides funding and support for start-up companies in specific economic sectors. Whitney has been serving as Acting Director of MTI since August of 2014. Before assuming that post, he worked in the Department of Economic and Community Development and was a long-time economic development staff person for U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe. Whitney is well known and well respected in Maine’s economic development circles. This nomination must be approved by the Maine Senate and MTI’s Board.