June 4, 2013

AUGUSTA - The House on Tuesday took up two bills concerning military recruiters in public schools. The first, LD 1502, requires that public high schools allow recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to students who elect to take it. Under the bill, recruiters, not school staff, would take the time to administer the test, which would remain voluntary for the students.

That bill was rejected mostly along party lines, 74-68. Majority Democrats ...

February 13, 2013

AUGUSTA - The Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee today voted unanimously to approve a supplemental budget to cover a $35.5 million revenue shortfall and an $87 million Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) budget overrun for the remainder of fiscal year 2013.

The budget presented to the Appropriations Committee by Governor LePage would have significantly trimmed Maine's welfare spending. Republican appropriators negotiated with Democrats to maintain many of the struc...

February 8, 2013

AUGUSTA - About 100 concerned citizens came to the State House for an outside demonstration in support of the 2nd Amendment and the gun rights guaranteed by Maine's Constitution today. They braved the 5 degree weather and horizontal snow for roughly two hours as a series of speakers addressed the crowd.

Conservative columnist and former congressional candidate Prof. John Frary spoke, along with former congressional candidate Blaine Richardson. Rep. Deborah Sanderson (R-Chelsea) spoke to...

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...

May 2, 2011

AUGUSTA - In public testimony last week, State Rep. Dennis Keschl defended his bill on business signage against critics who have attacked the legislation as a "billboard bill."

"You should know that this bill is about on-premise signs and not about billboards," he said during a public hearing before the Transportation Committee. He also rejected concerns that it would allow for the "uncontrolled use of advertising signs."

The bill, LD 1405, is "An Act To Amend the Laws Restricting Advertisi...

February 1, 2011

AUGUSTA - State Rep. Dennis Keschl has taken up duty on the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs in the new Legislature, a position that will give him an influential voice in shaping policy regarding state budgetary matters.

Rep. Keschl (R-Belgrade), a first-term legislator, said he is honored by his committee assignment. "It's a demanding committee that involves a lot of late nights and weekend work," he said. "But this committee is central to writing the next s...