AUGUSTA In a rare moment of agreement, Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic lawmakers are pushing for a student debt relief program aimed at convincing recent college graduates to settle in Maine.
But they couldn’t convince enough senators to go along Thursday.
The $40 million loan forgiveness program sought funding from a bond question next year that requires a two-thirds vote by lawmakers. The Senate’s 16-14 endorsement fell short.
Lewiston Sen. Nate Libby, the Democrats assistant minority leader, said it would be a first of its kind program in the nation that would send a message to the rest of the country that Maines the place to go.
“It’s time to do something big and bold,” Libby said. “This is a serious initiative.”
…
Read the full article at: http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/2017/07/20/state-leaders-press-40-million-student-debt-relief-plan/2169253