Lawmakers override veto of bill that would create jobs
The state Legislature closed its 126th session in early May by deciding to sustain or override Gov. Paul LePage's remaining vetoes for dozens of bills. While lawmakers sustained vetoes for 33 bills that will never see the light of day, they managed to override vetoes for 15 others, including one that could help the state create new jobs and another that would allow more scrutiny of a proposed $67 million fee hike for cell phone, landline phone and Internet phone ratepayers across Maine.
Mo' money, mo' jobs
The job-creation measure will come in the form of a $12 million bond being sent to the November ballot. If approved by voters, it would provide the Finance Authority of Maine with $4 million to insure portions of small business loans provided by financial institutions, according to the bond measure's text. It will also provide FAME with $8 million for state, regional and local financial firms to make flexible loans to small businesses “to create jobs, revitalize downtowns and strengthen the rural economy.” Lawmakers also overrode a bill that will seek to improve the state's regional economic development revolving loan program by increasing the maximum for loans to $350,000 from its previous $250,000 cutoff. It has also made companies with $5 million to $10 million in annual sales and 50-100 employees eligible for the state's revolving loan program.
FairPoint phone home
The telecommunications bill that became law will give the state Legislature final approval over proposals by the Maine Public Utilities Commission to increase the state's Universal Service Fund, which would, in turn, hike fees for cable, cell phone and land line ratepayers. FairPoint Communications has asked the PUC to increase the fund by $67 million to provide service to more far-off, rural customers as part of the state's “provider of last resort” rule. The increase is estimated to cost the average phone user about $5 more per month.
Good news for teeth
To round out notable veto overrides, lawmakers also helped enact a law that will help community health centers allow primary care professionals, including dentists, to claim up to $60,000 in tax credits in increasing increments over five years — but only if they agree to practice full-time in an underserved area for at least that span of time. A maximum of five primary care professionals will be certified by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services each year.
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