AUGUSTA — The head of Maine’s ethics commission says Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves’ support of a bill to expand Medicaid coverage under the federal health care law is not a conflict of interest.

Jonathan Wayne, executive director of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, says in a letter to Eves that the broad effect of the law and “lack of any personal benefit to you” suggests there is no conflict of interest.

Some House GOP lawmakers had said Eves, of North Berwick, should not vote on the expansion bill because he also serves as director of business development at Sweetser, a mental health care provider they say would benefit from more Medicaid patients.

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