PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 15, 2022
A historic measure that would allow Maine’s tribes to benefit from future federal Indian laws looks unlikely to be adopted by the U.S. Senate before the current Congress ends early in the New Year. The bill, introduced and championed by Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District, passed the House July 14 as an amendment to the annual defense spending authorization bill. But the bill – which only effects Maine’s tribes — lacks a champion in the Senate. Sen. Angus King said, “Any significant change should result from negotiations between the tribes and the state.” He opposes Golden’s measure because he doesn’t think Congress should be meddling in the terms of a binding settlement negotiated and approved by the state and three of Maine’s tribes in 1980. Sen. Susan Collins said, “I’m concerned that the state and our forest products industry are not on board and I recognize this is a difficult issue.”