Lawmakers to consider vetoes of 2 labor bills

AUGUSTA – After they return from a four-day weekend to finish up work for the session, Maine lawmakers Monday were expected to decide whether to sustain Gov. Angus King’s vetoes of a pair of labor bills.

One of the bills seeks to change a state law preventing hospitals and other health care facilities from using state funds such as Medicaid to fight attempts to form labor unions.

King said some of the bill’s provisions are unconstitutional.

The other bill would provide that an injured worker in a full-time rehabilitation program is presumptively entitled to receive disability benefits.

In his veto message to the Legislature, King said Maine Workers’ Compensation Board hearing officers already have the authority to award “an appropriate level” of disability benefits to workers in full- time vocational rehabilitation programs.

Two-thirds votes of the House and Senate are needed to override a veto. Lawmakers are expected to wrap up this year’s session this week.