Legislators to tackle backlog of bills

AUGUSTA – A backlog of bills ranging from term limits and time zones to the death penalty has legislative leaders cracking the whip as the House and Senate await the arrival of hundreds of proposals still in committee.

House Speaker John Richardson told representatives that 1,400 bills had not yet reached the floor for debate and votes. If the current special session follows the usual pattern, lawmakers would expect to adjourn around mid-June.

“There’s a lot of work moving forward and we need to get it done as soon as possible,” the Brunswick Democrat said Tuesday.

Bills still in committee address a wide range of issues, not even counting the thorny tax, budget and borrowing issues still in play.

On Wednesday, lawmakers on the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee voted to kill a string of bills with redundant language aimed at weakening Maine’s term limits law while endorsing one to lengthen allowable terms to 12 years, but only if voters authorize it in 2006.

Also Wednesday, the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee heard testimony on a gun control bill that has drawn opposition from a leading hunting group, the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

It would make gun show operators responsible for failure to perform required background checks of buyers and impose stiff fines for each failure.

The Judiciary Committee opened a daylong session with a hearing on a bill to revive a death penalty in Maine.

A proposal to seek approval to switch Maine from the Eastern Standard Time zone to the Atlantic zone was before the State and Local Government Committee. The sponsor, Rep. Kevin Glynn, R-South Portland, said the change would save energy, enhance public safety and increase business and tax revenues.

On Thursday, the issue of bear hunting returns as the fish and game committee hears testimony on more than a half-dozen bills. Because of the large crowd expected, the hearing will be held at the Augusta Civic Center.

Maine voters last fall rejected a referendum proposal to stop baiting, trapping and hounding of bears.