AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Gov. Paul LePage is submitting a last-minute bill to fund new drug enforcement agents, judges and prosecutors to combat the state’s drug problem.
The Republican governor proposed Wednesday to use revenue in the unclaimed property fund account, which holds things like checking accounts and insurance payments whose owner can’t be identified.
LePage said lawmakers will consider the measure Thursday when they return to take up vetoed bills.
The bill would add 10 Maine Drug Enforcement Agency agents, two district court judges, and two state prosecutors. The Legislature approved it earlier this year, but it was never funded.
LePage initially proposed adding 14 DEA agents, four judges and four prosecutors, but lawmakers scaled that back and included $750,000 for opiate addiction treatment.
The bills’ total cost is 2.5 million.
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