January 23, 2013

AUGUSTA - House Republican leadership on Wednesday joined Democratic and Senate Republican leadership in announcing the names of the 15 members to be appointed to the Committee on Maine's Workforce and Economic Future. The committee will be charged with proposing legislation to close the "skills gap" that exists in the job marketplace, whereby employers often cannot find workers with the skills they need to fill available jobs.

House Republican members on the committee include Reps. Paul...

June 12, 2012

AUGUSTA - One of the least publicized actions of the 125th Legislature will begin July 1, when the Maine Board of Tax Appeals is established, overhauling the procedures for appealing decisions by the State Tax Assessor.

Under the new system, taxpayers will have the right to appeal adverse decisions to the Board or Superior Court under "de novo" standards, meaning the appellant can begin fresh, with new facts, new arguments or new evidence. Indeed, even a final decision of the Board of Tax ...

November 30, 2011

House Republican Office

November 21, 2011

For more information:

Jay Finegan, 287-1445

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ray Wallace sworn in as Legislature's newest member

AUGUSTA - State Rep. Ray Wallace was sworn into office today by Governor Paul LePage after winning a special election to fill a vacant seat in House District 24.

Rep. Wallace (R-Dexter) said he was motivated to run for office by the reform agenda championed by the Republican majorities in the House and Senate...

May 5, 2011

AUGUSTA - Landmark legislation to revamp Maine's health insurance market cleared a critical hurdle today in the House of Representatives by a vote of 76-72. The measure, designed to generate more competition and bring rates closer to national norms, now moves to the Senate. Final enactment votes in both bodies could come as early as next week.

"The people of our state are the winners today," said House Speaker Robert Nutting. "For years, reasonable proposals to fix a dysfunctional health insur...

March 22, 2011

By Rep. Paul Bennett

When this legislative session comes to an end, sometime in June, Maine residents can count on one thing - tax relief is on the way.

A year ago, when the talk centered on a $1 billion shortfall, no one imagined that the next two-year state budget would see tax reductions. But a significant improvement in revenue projections ($365 million higher than earlier forecasts), coupled with a shift in spending priorities, enabled Governor LePage to send forth a budget that pro...

January 18, 2011

AUGUSTA -- State Rep. Paul Bennett has been appointed to the Legislature's high profile Taxation Committee, putting him in a position to help shape policy regarding municipal revenue sharing, property tax rebates and other important financial issues.

Rep. Bennett (R-Kennebunk), a first-term legislator, said he is looking forward to his work on the committee. "It's going to be a very busy term," he said. "It looks as if at least 200 bills will be sent to Taxation for public hearings and wor...