LePage Vetoes Bill Providing Additional Jail Funding

Maine Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed a bill that would have earmarked $2.4 million this year and next for the state's county jails.

The Portland Press Herald reports the Republican governor said in his veto letter Friday that state funding to operate county jails is capped. If counties exceed that limit, the state is asked to provide supplemental funding to make up the difference.

He says the cap takes away any incentive for county jails to watch their spending. LePage says the bill must contain a provision doing away with the cap to avoid being vetoed.

The bipartisan bill was overwhelmingly approved in the House, and was approved in the Senate unanimously without a roll call.

Lawmakers will take up that and other vetoed bills on April 29.