The Maine Senate today voted in favor of LD 1203 sending the bill to Governor LePage for signature. Governor LePage has stated in interviews that he would veto the bill if it made it to his desk.

The Senate was first presented with a motion on the floor that the Senate accept the Majority "Ought Not To Pass Report" filed from the  Veteran & Legal Affairs Committee. After debate, the Senate voted down that motion 17-16. Subsequently the Minority "Ought To Pass As Amended Report" was passed with a 21-12 vote in favor of the bill.

Supporters, pleased with the Senate vote, still have an uphill battle with Gov. LePage's looming veto. The task now is to get his planned veto overturned. This would be accomplished with the House and Senate overturning his veto with a 2/3rds vote from each chamber. Supporters will still be in Augusta talking to legislators to garner support for overturning the veto.

To see the summary of LD 1203 on the State of Maine Legislature's website follow this link. You can view the roll calls of each of the votes, the bill's text and the amendments.

We will keep you up to date on how Gov. LePage handles the bill and if necessary, when the legislature will be asked again to vote on the bill and how you can support this legislation.