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Governor Janet Mills appeared before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee during a public hearing Thursday to testify in support of legislation to amend the Constitution of Maine to prevent discrimination based on an individual’s sex.

Augusta, MAINE - Governor Janet Mills announced today she has hired Mary Anne Turowski and Tom Abello to serve as senior policy advisors. Turowski previously served as director of politics and legislation for the Maine State Employees Association and Abello previously worked as director of external affairs at The Nature Conservancy.

Augusta, MAINE – Today, the Maine Senate overwhelmingly confirmed nine of Governor Janet Mills’ cabinet nominees, including the Commissioners of the Departments of Administrative and Financial Services, Transportation, Labor, Economic and Community Development, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Resources, Environmental Protection, and Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, as well as the head of the Workers’ Compensation Board.

Governor Mills released the following statement in response:

Augusta, MAINE - At a public hearing on Tuesday, a representative of Governor Mills, President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash and Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, testified in support of LD 1, “An Act to Protect Health Care Coverage for Maine Families.” The bill, sponsored by President Jackson and Speaker Gideon, would require insurance companies to include basic patient protections in health care plans offered in Maine.

Good morning, I am Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

In the past five years at least one thousand six hundred thirty people in Maine have died from drug overdose – more than the population of Chesterville, or Eastport or North Berwick.

418 in 2017 alone – more than one a day.

You know, these people are not “junkies.” They are our neighbors, our co-workers, family members, school mates, graduates of our high schools, our CTEs, our universities and colleges.

Mills Praises Senate President Jackson’s Bill to Provide Temporary Relief to Maine Workers

Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today her support of emergency legislation sponsored by Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (D-Allagash) to provide temporary relief to workers impacted by the shutdown of the federal government and called on the State Legislature to quickly pass the measure and send it to her desk to sign into law.

Governor Mills and Smith Announce Prevention and Recovery Cabinet

Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that she has appointed Gordon Smith, Executive Vice President of the Maine Medical Association, to serve as the Director of Opioid Response in her administration. The position, which will be housed within the Office of Innovation and the Future, will marshal the collective power of state government to combat the opioid epidemic.

Augusta, MAINE - Governor Janet Mills announced today she has appointed Donna Loring, former Penobscot Tribal Council member, as Senior Advisor on Tribal Affairs to the Governor.

Augusta, MAINE – Today, Governor Janet Mills sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services informing the agency that Maine would not accept the terms of the pending 1115 Medicaid waiver. Instead, Governor Mills has directed Acting Commissioner of Labor Laura Fortman and Acting Commissioner of Health and Human Services Jeanne Lambrew to make available vocational training and workforce supports to MaineCare participants at every opportunity while increasing access to needed services that keep people in the workforce.

Augusta, MAINE - Governor Janet Mills announced today the Office of the Governor has launched new official public accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to more effectively communicate with Maine families.

Beal will be first woman to lead the agency

Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that she will nominate Amanda Beal to serve as the state’s next Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Beal, who grew up on a dairy farm in Litchfield and is an expert in agriculture and sustainability, will be the first woman to lead the department.

Augusta, Maine - With near blizzard conditions and 12 to 18 inches of snow projected across some areas of Maine this weekend, Governor Janet Mills today is urging Maine families to stay home whenever possible and to reach out to help any neighbors in need.

For one thousand, one hundred and sixty-nine days, Mainers who voted in support of affordable senior housing have waited for their voice to matter.

That is almost 70 percent of people who went to the polls three years ago who voted for the senior housing bond.

No longer will we wait.

Good morning, I am Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

Governor Janet Mills issued a warm welcome to new Americans from over 30 countries who took their oaths of citizenship Friday at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony at King Middle School in Portland. According to school officials, almost sixty percent of King Middle School students are children of color and speak a language other than English at home. Alain Igerneza, who sang the National Anthem at Governor Mills’ Inauguration, is also a King Middle School alum.

Mills directs Pingree to establish framework for the creation of the Office of Innovation and the Future

Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that she has appointed Hannah Pingree, former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, to lead the state’s Office of Policy Management with the specific charge of developing a framework to transition it into the Office of Innovation and the Future.

$500,000 for weatherization, accessibility projects immediately available

Augusta, MAINE - Backed by the AARP and Maine seniors, Governor Janet Mills today signed a financial order to begin the release of $15 million in affordable housing bonds for Maine seniors as approved by voters in 2015.

Governor Mills and Acting Commissioner Lambrew Urge End to Shutdown

Augusta, MAINE - The Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced today that individuals and families who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (known as Food Supplement, in Maine) will be receiving their February benefits early to help them withstand potentially severe impacts to SNAP caused by the continued federal government shutdown.

Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that, in accordance with state law, she has officially posted her cabinet nominees and has notified Senate President Troy Jackson, House Speaker Sara Gideon, and all departments in the Executive Branch of the nominations, officially initiating the legislative confirmation process.