AUGUSTA — In a bizarre series of political maneuvers early Thursday morning, House Democrats managed to keep alive dozens of important bills that do everything from funding the administrative costs of Medicaid expansion to cutting taxes. But in a show of resistance, minority House Republicans repeatedly blocked a longer extension of the legislative session and […]
politics
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Medical marijuana reform bill advances
A bill to reform the state’s medical marijuana program appeared headed to Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday. The second major piece of cannabis legislation to pass both houses of the Legislature in as many days would expand the number of people who can qualify for a medical marijuana card, increase the number of state-licensed dispensaries […]
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Posted inMaine, Uncategorized
Judge will decide by Friday whether Portland asylum seeker can compete in poetry contest
A Deering High School junior who is in Maine seeking asylum from Zambia will find out by Friday whether he can participate in a national poetry recital contest that begins Monday. A federal judge in Portland on Wednesday heard arguments in a lawsuit filed on behalf of Allan Monga, 19, who has been banned from […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Secretary of State prepares to use ranked choice voting in June 12 primaries
AUGUSTA – Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap said Wednesday he would move forward to conduct a first-in-the-nation statewide ranked choice election on June 12, when Democrats and Republicans pick their party nominees from crowded fields for governor and two other races. Dunlap’s announcement came a day after the state’s high court issued an opinion saying the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Wary of tainted campaign cash, Poliquin gives it to charities
On the first Friday of February, U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin was feeling particularly generous. Despite facing a potentially hot reelection contest that might force his campaign to shell out millions of dollars on television advertising, consultants and all the accoutrements of a modern-day political showdown, Poliquin opted to dip into his coffers for something entirely […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Super PAC to spend $1.2 million on TV time to boost Poliquin
A super PAC tied to the U.S. House Republican leadership announced this week it has reserved $1.2 million worth of television airtime in Maine to boost the campaign of a two-term GOP lawmaker seeking re-election. The Congressional Leadership Fund locked in the election cycle advertising on Maine television stations to lend a hand to U.S. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Divided legislative panel endorses ‘red flag’ gun bill for Maine
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee split Tuesday on a bill that would allow a judge to order individuals to temporarily surrender their guns if they are deemed to pose a threat to themselves or others. On a 7-4 vote, Judiciary Committee members endorsed the bill, which would allow police or family members to seek a […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Solution to dysfunction ignored
In his column April 5, Cal Thomas shared his answer as to what is wrong with Washington. He made several assertions to which I must object. Thomas wrote that the most obvious wrong is the self-interest of politicians — their pursuit of power. But among all Washington wrongs, that one is minor. It is a […]
Posted inMaine, Nation / World, Uncategorized
Barbara Bush, wife and mother of presidents, champion of literacy, dies at 92
HOUSTON (AP) — Barbara Bush, the snowy-haired first lady and mother of a president whose plainspoken manner and utter lack of pretense made her more popular at times than her husband, President George H.W. Bush, died Tuesday, a family spokesman said. She was 92. Mrs. Bush brought a grandmotherly style to buttoned-down Washington, often appearing […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Judge rules ranked choice voting allowed in June
AUGUSTA — The state’s highest court ruled Tuesday that a ballot-box law that moves Maine’s primary elections to a ranked-choice voting system should stand for the pending primary elections in June. The June 12 vote will be the first in the nation for a statewide use of ranked-choice voting system. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court […]