Page 27 - Eric Brakey News Today

Several proposals call for higher state reimbursement, as well as other changes to rental rates, eligibility and administrative support.

Several proposals call for higher state reimbursement, as well as other changes to rental rates, eligibility and administrative support.

House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, submitted a similar bill last session, but it did not advance out of committee after Gov. Janet Mills funded a smaller expansion, limited to noncitizens who are pregnant or under the age of 21.

The centerpiece of the emergency legislation is a round of $450 checks to nearly 880,000 income-eligible taxpayers, plus tens of millions of dollars for direct heating and emergency housing assistance.

Nearly 880,000 income-eligible taxpayers are expected to begin receiving the $450 checks by the end of January under the $473 million package.

The vote came after an hours-long public hearing where advocates and lawmakers urged passage of the original $473 million bill to provide emergency heating and energy relief, and rental assistance.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A hastily assembled legislative panel launched a public hearing Wednesday on a proposed $474 million heating assistance package with a goal of expediting relief checks to Mainers.

The original proposal would provide $473 million in emergency heating and energy relief bill and rental assistance, and includes $450 checks for most taxpayers.

The vote came after an hours-long public hearing where advocates and lawmakers urged passage of the original $473 million bill to provide emergency heating and energy relief, and rental assistance.

Twitter users spent the weekend making fun of a Wikipedia page dedicated to multiple journalists being temporarily suspended from the social media site on Thursday.