Maine Legislature Passes Funding for Heating, Housing & Stimulus Checks

The Maine Legislature finally passed a measure (LD 3) to fund low-income heating and housing assistance along with $450 stimulus checks to an estimated 880,000 Maine residents on Wednesday. The Legislature originally voted on the bill in early December, but failed to garner the two-thirds votes necessary after Senate Republicans demanded a public hearing be held on the spending package first. On December 21, a legislative committee voted unanimously to approve the measure. The House voted 114-29 and the Senate voted 24-10 to pass this critical legislation.
 

LD 3 will deliver $450 checks to individuals earning $100,000 and couples filing jointly earning up to $200,000. In negotiations with the Mills administration, House Republicans requested that income limits be increased by $25,000 and $50,000. The average family would receive $900.

In addition, the bill includes $40 million in supplemental funding for the low-income heating assistance program, $10 million for emergency fuel assistance and $21 million to support emergency housing and shelters. See how your legislators voted on LD 3 here.