The doors were locked at the Maine State House Thursday, though the actual public impact was minimal. Author: Don Carrigan Updated: 10:03 PM EST January 7, 2021
AUGUSTA, Maine Maine State House has been closed to the public for nine months because of the COVID pandemic, but Capitol Police officers said Thursday that the lockdown was also an extra step in response to Wednesday’s attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The State House is guarded by Capitol Police, who are part of the state Department of Public Safety. There is a security gate at the entrance to the State House building itself, although there is no such barrier at the office building nearby where many Legislative committee meetings are held.
, President of the Maine Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989.
“AFSCME Council 93 commends Governor Janet Mills for crafting a budget plan that does not attempt to place the burden of the state’s fiscal challenges on the backs of dedicated and hard-working public employees. Given that our members working in state corrections and mental health have bravely continued working on the frontlines throughout the pandemic, we appreciate that the governor’s budget does not call for layoffs or furloughs of state employees. In addition, by maintaining current funding levels for municipalities, the governor has provided some measure of security for the hundreds of AFSCME members who continue to serve in vital, essential services in our cities and towns,”
Wed, 01/06/2021 - 7:45pm
AUGUSTA Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash and Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, released the following statement in response to the events that took place in Washington, D.C. today:
“Like most Americans, we watched aghast at what unfolded on the footsteps of our nation’s Capitol, as what started as protests against the certification of the electoral college results transformed into a violent mob storming the Capitol building. Let us be clear - this is not who we are as Americans and it certainly is not who we are as Mainers.
“As elected officials, who’ve taken an oath to serve and protect the Maine constitution, we are committed to protecting our democracy. As people who love this country, we believe in our government and believe in the U.S. Constitution. What happened today is completely unacceptable. Our prayers are for the safety of all the women and men in and around the U.S. Capitol and a swift resolution to this lawless
Meyer, Roberts named Maine House chairs of policy panels
Portsmouth Herald
AUGUSTA, Maine – Local Seacoast Reps. Michele Meyer, D-Eliot, and Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick, will serve as House chairs of key legislative policy panels.
Meyer will chair the Health and Human Services Committee, while Roberts will chair the Committee on Innovation, Development Economic Advancement and Business. As Maine navigates COVID-19 and the state s economic recovery, both committees are expected to play a pivotal role. The challenges of the historic moment we find ourselves in create a critical window of opportunity to address the immediate crises with a focus on the disparities laid bare by COVID-19, to continue rebuilding crucial public health infrastructure, and to ensure we are advancing policy that reflects our commitment to improving the lives of each and every Mainer, said Meyer, a registered nurse.