Mills asks Congress to delay action on Golden’s tribal equality bill

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 8, 2022

Gov. Janet Mills has asked a congressional committee to delay action on a bill sponsored by Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, a fellow Democrat, that would put the state’s tribes on equal ground with those in other states going forward. Mills’ chief counsel sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee last week saying that the nature of Maine’s 1980 land claims settlement means the issue should be negotiated between state and tribal leaders, and that Congress should wait until those negotiations are complete. Golden, D-2nd District, said he agrees that Maine officials aren’t moving fast enough.