Columnist
A month after it was put on the docket, the Legislature swiftly passed and Gov. Janet Mills signed a “Winter Energy Relief” bill on its regular opening day, Jan. 4.
The $474 million spending proposal, LD 3, was a curious production, about which more in a moment.
It was also curious how it became law. On organizing day, Dec. 7, newly sworn-in lawmakers found themselves voting to spend more money than in almost any bill except a biennial budget.
Things were proceeding smoothly until the new Senate Republican Leader, Trey Stewart, blew things up by leading his caucus in opposition. Though numbering 13 members, the caucus is just large enough to block emergency legislation, which must pass by two-thirds.
Stewart had already negotiated more generous income limits for the $450 checks that were the bill’s main feature – up to $200,000 per family – but insisted there must be more “process.”
So there was; a five-hour hearing before a temporary Appropriations Committee that changed the bill not at all. Stewart and a handful of other GOP senators then provided enough votes for passage, saying his object had been achieved.
Other than the shadow boxing that’s always going on between the parties, it’s hard to agree with that assessment, or that it was worth the delay.
It’s still puzzling, though, why this governor’s bill took the form it did. For a plan aimed at “energy relief” it was misdirected – more than 80% of the money went to the $450 checks, closely resembling the $850...
Images of the Whitegate fuel protests earlier this month were altered to make it appear gardaí were violent towards protesters. The AI-doctored images were shared widely online, including by inter...