Sun Journal
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights will be on the ballot in November. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court cleared the way for TABOR on Thursday when it overturned a Superior Court ruling that found the secretary of state erred when he accepted signed petitions beyond a deadline set by the Legislature. “The question of the statute’s consistency with the [c]onstitution is at the heart of this case,” wrote Chief Justice Leigh Ingalls Saufley for the five-judge majority.
The state Senate approved new limits Wednesday on the ability of towns and their residents to fight unwanted development projects. In a floor fight lead by Lewiston state Sen. Peggy Rotundo, a Democrat, and Sen. Dana Dow, R-Waldoboro, opponents tried to stop the legislation and then to amend it to make it less restrictive. While they were unable to stop the bill, a compromise reached with the bill’s supporters did extend the amount of time that municipalities and residents have to react to development proposals.