Lawmakers still face long list of bills

AUGUSTA – With the distraction of a disputed Senate election gone, Maine lawmakers get back to business today, chipping away at a lengthy agenda of bills ranging from the budget to term limits.

Religious holy days associated with Easter and Passover will be celebrated from Thursday through Sunday, so there’s virtually no chance the Legislature can complete its two-year session this week, House Majority Leader Patrick Colwell said Sunday.

But the Gardiner Democrat said he’s confident work can be wrapped up by the end of next week, which would take it just a few days past the end-of-March deadline leaders had set earlier this year.

Now that it has unconditionally seated Democratic Sen. Michael Brennan of Portland, winner of a disputed special election, the Senate can give its full attention to the state budget today.

The House on Friday gave all but final approval to a supplemental tax-and-spending package shaped to avert a revenue shortfall of $160 million. The bill also is supported by legislative leaders and Gov. Angus King.

Other issues still to be dealt with include group health insurance for small businesses and self-employed Mainers, fish and game fees, mercury disposal controls and Workers’ Compensation, to list a few.

A bill sponsored by House Speaker Michael Saxl, D-Portland, which would establish a public-private partnership to provide health care coverage to small employers and self-employed Mainers, awaits final votes.

Separate legislation still awaiting preliminary votes seeks a federal waiver allowing the use of matching money to qualify more Mainers for a senior citizens’ low-cost drug program.

A bill submitted by King seeks to overturn a state supreme court decision that said injuries not related to work must be taken into account if a combination of old injuries and newer on-the-job injuries prevents a return to work.

Businesses fear the ruling that endorses “stacking” of injuries will add to their Workers’ Compensation costs.

“The governor’s coming in awfully late with this,” said Colwell, noting a reluctance by some lawmakers to pass a law that directly overturns a supreme court ruling.

A bill that is virtually certain to generate lively legislative debate seeks to increase fees for more than 15,000 bear, turkey and duck hunters, all-terrain vehicle users and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The bill, designed to offset a projected $8 million shortfall facing the game department, also would require that 18 percent of the fish and game budget come from general state tax funds.

A proposal that has been set aside for weeks but still faces further votes seeks to increase future governors’ annual pay from $70,000 to $101,000. A version has been rejected by the Senate.

Another bill calls for an advisory statewide referendum to determine whether Maine voters favor amending or repealing the law that limits lawmakers to four consecutive terms as senator or representative.

Further House and Senate action is needed on a proposal to set up a program to remove and recycle mercury switches from cars that are being junked.

The measure, a priority of environmental activists this session, faces a challenge by opponents who are trying to weaken several of its provisions.

Both the House and Senate have voted to require the phaseout of all mercury thermostats from residential and commercial buildings by 2006, but the bill awaits final votes.

A late-arriving environmental bill that is seen by opponents as an assault on Biddeford’s air toxics ordinance was just reviewed at a legislative hearing last week, and faces committee and floor votes.

A bill that has won preliminary House approval but awaits a Senate vote seeks to ban fertilizers containing more than 500 parts per million of arsenic.

Some of the other bills awaiting further action include King’s package of four anti-terrorism measures, and proposals to allow local option sales taxes and to improve treatment of mentally ill people who are incarcerated.