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While Wednesday’s meeting was reserved for public comment, some members of the committee did indicate their inclination regarding marijuana legalization. Rep. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, had pointed questions for Russell.  AUGUSTA – A bill to expand the Maine Educational Opportunity Tax Credit earned the unanimous support of the Taxation Committee members present Tuesday.
Under the measure sponsored by Rep. Justin Chenette, Maine residents who go to college in other New England states because their course of study is not available in Maine would be eligible for the Maine Educational Opportunity Tax Credit. “Many students who study elsewhere in New England want to return to Maine,” said Chenette, D-Saco. “By expanding this tax credit to them, we can ensure that more students return to our state to live and work.” AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine's Board of Corrections appears poised to disappear. At the same time an adequate funding stream for Maine's 15 county jails remains anything but certain.
In his new budget revision plan, Republican Gov. Paul LePage has proposed eliminating the board's $6.5 million operations fund. The board is charged with overseeing operations at the state's county jails, and LePage has proposed a state take-over of the jails or returning complete control of the facilities back to the counties.  Testimony before the Taxation Committee on LD 898, An Act To Reduce Student Loan Debt through an Expansion of the Educational Opportunity Tax Credit.
Our state and our country is facing a crisis. The next bubble to pop, is student loans. After graduating and entering the workforce, many college graduates pay a large portion of their income on student loan payments. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average college graduate incurs more than $29,000 in student loan debt. And that’s a low amount compared to many out there. This bill will not wave a magic wand over the issue. Much of what needs to be done, should happen at the Federal level, however we can take action in some areas. This bill makes a really small change that could have a major impact on students in our state.
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