Politics & Government

A local state representative, Anne Perry of Calais, has been put into the national spotlight for sponsoring a bill that has gained controversy for its connection to supporting Maine's already existing abortion and gender-affirming medical treatment laws.

A tribal sovereignty bill that was introduced in the legislature near the end of February may be pared down to those areas where agreement can be reached between the tribes and the state so that it doesn't end up being vetoed at the end of the short legislative session scheduled to adjourn in April.

The proposed Washington County budget calls for an unprecedented hike of almost 20%, with the amount to be raised through taxation of the county's municipalities at $8.68 million, a little less than $1.5 million over the previous year's amount and over $2 million more than the county's 2020 budget.

Maine voters will have eight referendum questions to consider at the polls on Tuesday, November 7. Questions 1 and 3 should be considered together as they both have to do with the state's electric utilities.

Rena Newell, the Passamaquoddy chief at Sipayik, was recalled from office in a special election on October 10, after serving just over a year of her four-year term.

Once again, Governor Janet Mills has stopped a bill to extend rights to the Wabanaki nations in Maine.