Chuck Schumer started a government shutdown he couldn’t finish. The New York Democrat, among the shrewdest operators in national politics, stumbled badly because he succumbed to the siren song of the anti-Trump resistance. He believed that any charge could be made to stick to President Donald Trump, no matter how implausible, and chose the dictates […]
government shutdown
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Acadia National Park closing operations as shutdown continues
Acadia National Park was in the process of closing its operations Sunday as the federal government shutdown moved toward its third day. Much of the park will remain open to the public, but if it snows, there will be no plows to clear the roads and parking lots, hampering access, Acadia spokeswoman Christie Anastasia said […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Congress likely racing toward a government shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — A bitterly divided Congress hurtled toward a government shutdown this weekend in a partisan stare-down over demands by Democrats for a solution on politically fraught legislation to protect about 700,000 younger immigrants from being deported. Democrats in the Senate have served notice they will filibuster a four-week, government-wide funding bill that cleared […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Congress strains to pass stopgap budget, avert shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday he’s confident that his GOP-controlled chamber will pass a stopgap government-wide funding bill, even as growing opposition from Senate Democrats made prospects in that chamber increasingly dicey. President Donald Trump wasn’t helping matters, injecting confusion by tweeting Thursday that a children’s health care program should not […]
Posted inBethel, Franklin, Lewiston-Auburn, River Valley, sj-web
What would a state shutdown look like?
LEWISTON — The city clerk’s office is encouraging drivers to tend to July paperwork before Saturday to avoid lapsed registrations and licenses if state government shuts down. That goes for online renewals, too. The city will also stop issuing certified copies of birth and death certificates before the end of the week, because the state […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
King blames ‘the rise of the governmental Luddites’ for shutdown
PORTLAND — U.S. , I-Maine, fresh off being appointed to a special bipartisan committee charged with developing a long-term federal budget, told a Portland audience Thursday the panel will have to overcome polarizing party politics to avoid another round of brinksmanship in early 2014. As part of the legislation passed late Wednesday to temporarily reopen the federal […]
Posted inMaine
Shutdown creates snag for some heating-assistance applicants
The federal government shutdown is holding up some LIHEAP applications, much to those homeowners’ frustration. New this year in Maine: a requirement that people applying to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program show their Social Security cards. Those who have lost theirs cards and need new ones haven’t been able to request them because the […]
Posted inLetters
T. Case: An unnecessary shutdown
Strange that both major political parties, elected by the people, cannot agree on issues vital to the national security and the well-being of the people. Strange that we common citizens must be out of work while members of Congress and their staff face no layoffs or loss of pay. Strange that only nonessential jobs take […]
Posted inLetters
M. Churchill: Shutdown affects many here
Alongside many national parks are small towns that owe their existence to tourism. Tourist dollars support those towns and businesses, pumping money back into the economy through fees, gas taxes, goods and services. Now the gates are closed. Silence fills the parks. That means it is not only silent, it is lost revenue for all […]
Posted inLetters
G.Ruby: Arrogant politicians
I believe that most Americans do not want a government shutdown but, as usual, members of the U.S. Congress did the opposite. The arrogance of a handful of politicians who have the power to shut down America is unbelievable. Term limits are needed to counter those career politicians. Most of them retire as millionaires with […]