Legislature

PRICES WERE out of control at the end of third-century Rome, and the Emperor Diocletian was determined to rein them in. In AD 301 he issued his famous Edict on Prices , a complex piece of legislation that banned speculation and established price ceilings for a wide range of goods and services. But the ambitious law failed. Though violators could be punished with death, inflation and speculation persisted. Goods were hoarded, or sold on the black market. The economic crisis worsened.

Last week , the Supreme Judicial Court called loud attention to a loophole in the state's drunken driving law when it overturned a license suspension of a driver who had refused to take a breath test despite admitting to "sufficient facts" of drunken driving. The court said such admissions — an option commonly given to first-time offenders — don't amount to convictions for the purposes of suspending the offender's license. Now, the Legislature needs to protect pedestrians and motorists by closing the dangerous loophole before other drunken drivers elude justice.

Gov. Paul LePage has signed into law a bill that will allow licensed electricians to supervise two apprentices or helpers at a time instead of one. The law, which was heavily debated in the Legislature before it was enacted, is intended to attract more young Mainers into careers as electricians. The apprentices must have completed or be enrolled in an accredited training program. The new law, which was signed last Thursday, also removes $96 fees required for students to get helper's licenses when enrolled in a high school or college electrical program.

The 125th Maine Legislature is adjourning after clearing its agenda for 2011 and 2012. Before the gavel came down early Thursday, leaders emphasized bipartisan gains while recognizing partisan differences that also marked the session. In his parting speech, Republican Senate President Kevin Raye of Perry noted that five of six state budgets were passed with unanimous, bipartisan support of the Appropriations Committee. For the first time in decades, Republicans controlled both legislative chambers while a GOP governor was in office.

Repairs to the aging Sagamore Bridge during the spring have slowed traffic leaving Cape Cod to a crawl most nights and backed it up for miles on Sundays, culminating in a Mother's Day morass when the stalled line of cars stretched past multiple exits on Route 6 and triggered all-day gridlock on nearby Route 6A. "Whoever conceived of this plan should be fired," said Anne Kilguss, a Boston social worker and psychotherapist with a second home in...

Days after state environmental officials found unacceptable noise levels from wind turbines in Falmouth, they are considering new regulations that would require the state to review potential noise issues before wind turbines are built in Massachusetts. The state might also conduct sound studies in other communities, such as Fairhaven and Kingston, where residents, as in Falmouth, have complained about newly installed turbines, officials said. A panel of independent scientists and doctors, convened by the state to look at the effects of wind turbines on the health of...

Tricia Clark will keep her fingers crossed when the Legislature reconvenes this week and takes up a budget plan that calls for sharp cuts in Medicaid and health care spending. Clark, 19, stands to lose out when the Legislature votes on a plan to slash spending on Medicaid and a slew of other programs ranging from mental health assistance and school grants to dental care, drug abuse treatment and prescription drugs. Clark is one of nearly 7,000 young adults who will lose Medicaid coverage if the Legislature approves a proposal to eliminate 19- and 20-year-olds from the...

Senate president Therese Murray is inviting residents in her district to participate in the Citizens' Legislative Seminar on March 20 and 21. Participants will learn about the budget and the history of the Legislature, and hear first-hand from lawmakers about what it's like working at the State House today. Murray, a Plymouth Democrat, said in a statement: "The Citizens' Legislative Seminar is a unique opportunity for residents from across the Commonwealth to ask questions about the legislative process and get an in-depth perspective of state government.

Legislation aimed at curbing gang activity, modeled after a law adopted three years ago in New Hampshire, has been filed for the upcoming legislative session. Filed by Representative Amy Volk, Republican of Scarborough, the bill would make it a felony for an adult to recruit a juvenile into a gang. New Hampshire passed a similar law in 2008, but officials say the law had the effect of shifting more gang activity to Maine. (AP)

Puerto Ricans will vote on whether to shrink the U.S. island territory's legislature. Gov. Luis Fortuno has signed legislation setting a referendum on a reform package that would decrease the size of the Senate and House of Representatives by a combined 22 seats. Fortuno said Monday the plan would save money and make the legislature more efficient. Opposition Sen. Eduardo Bhatia called it a threat to democracy and urged people to vote against it. Under the plan, the Senate would go from 27 seats to 17. The House would shrink from 51 seats to 39. The proposed change...

Town Meeting has voted to turn the elected treasurer and collector positions into one combined, appointed job. According to Jean Kopke, who is currently town clerk and treasurer, the change still must be approved by the Legislature as a home rule petition. The May 1 Town Meeting also approved spending money to demolish the old Crowley Elementary School, which has been vacant and in disrepair for years, Kopke said. Johanna Seltz

Tricia Clark will keep her fingers crossed when the Legislature reconvenes this week and takes up a budget plan that calls for sharp cuts in Medicaid and health care spending. Clark, 19, stands to lose out when the Legislature votes on a plan to slash spending on Medicaid and a slew of other programs ranging from mental health assistance and school grants to dental care, drug abuse treatment and prescription drugs. Clark is one of nearly 7,000 young adults who will lose Medicaid coverage if the Legislature approves a proposal to eliminate 19- and 20-year-olds from the state's Medicaid program,...

A key Connecticut lawmaker says efforts to enact state legislation requiring labeling of genetically modified food died in the face of threatened lawsuits by food producers. Rep. Richard Roy, the House chairman of the Environment Committee, said Thursday that he unsuccessfully lobbied House Speaker Christopher Donovan and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. The legislation got no further than his committee. The state Department of Agriculture opposed the legislation, saying it would put Connecticut at a competitive disadvantage with other states that do not...

A bill that would require battery-operated smoke detectors to be installed temporarily whenever a one- or two-family private residence is occupied during interior alterations or additions requiring a building permit has passed both chambers of the Connecticut legislature. The Senate passed the measure unanimously Wednesday, shortly before the legislative session ended. Under the legislation, carbon monoxide detectors would be required if there is a fireplace, fuel-burning appliance or attached garage.

Town Meeting voters have authorized selectmen to submit a home rule petition to the state Legislature that would allow local police to charge penalties of up to $200 to those taken into protective custody for excessive drinking. The provision is aimed at recovering the money spent to keep drunken individuals off the streets and out of harm's way. The home rule petition, which stipulates those placed in custody could pose a danger to themselves, others, or local property, is similar to one approved in Foxborough.

A hearing is scheduled Thursday to consider three challenges to the New Hampshire House's redistricting plan. Concord and Manchester sued over treatment of city wards and another group sued, arguing the plan violates an amendment that calls for as many single representative districts as possible. The Republican-led Legislature passed the plan over Governor John Lynch's veto. Lynch, a Democrat, said each town and city ward with sufficient population deserves a representative. The Republican plan would create more than 200 new districts, nearly doubling the current number.

Former top-ranked tennis player Marat Safin has won a seat in Russia's lower house of Parliament and will represent the pro-Kremlin party United Russia. The 31-year-old Safin will be one of the youngest members in the 450-seat legislature. Safin retired from tennis in 2009 after winning two Grand Slam titles and earning the No. 1 ranking in 2000. Official election results released Thursday by the Central Election Committee show that boxer Nikolai Valuev and three-time Olympic champion wrestler Alexander Karelin also won seats in the Duma, where they will represent the Prime...

EVEN BEFORE this year's grand debate about containing health care costs begins on Beacon Hill, a pointed disagreement has broken out among key players in the state health care arena. The health plans fear that legislative meddling is opening holes in the very cost-controlling arrangements that a recent law required, while legislators contend they are simply looking out for individuals who might be hurt by policy changes. There is nothing wrong with trying to minimize disruptions on patients from changes to their insurance plans, but the recent proposal to give...

Egypt's Islamist-dominated parliament has suspended its sessions for a week to protest the ruling military's failure to heed its repeated calls for the dismissal of the government. The legislature's speaker, Saad el-Katatni of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, announced the decision on Sunday after lawmakers spoke in a televised session against the government of Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri and the ruling generals who appointed it late last year. The move is likely to fuel tensions between the generals and the Brotherhood, which controls just under half the seats in...

The April 17 editorial "In fight to cut health costs, resist stiffer regulation for now" missed the mark in calling for the state Legislature to wait to "reassess the situation in two years" and "to leave the state's regulatory wrench in the toolbox" — in other words, to defer passing strong cost containment legislation. Two years is far too long to wait for confirmation that health care cost containment efforts are succeeding or not. This is especially true for the thousands of patients dealing with ongoing medical costs due to chronic...