AUGUSTA — The politically-divided House and Senate are at odds over whether Maine should prohibit people under the age of 18 from indoor tanning.
The Democratic-led House voted 87-59 to give initial approval to Sen. Geoff Gratwick’s bill on Thursday. The Republican-led Senate voted 18-17 in favor of rejecting the bill Wednesday. It faces further votes in both chambers.
Supporters of the measure say the dangers of tanning are clear, noting that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration now requires tanning beds to have labels warning against their use by minors. But opponents say that government doesn’t need to act as parent.
A similar bill introduced by Gratwick was vetoed in 2013 by Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who called it government overreach.
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