WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders have finalized a sweeping $1.3 trillion budget bill that substantially boosts military and domestic spending but leaves behind young immigrant “Dreamers,” deprives President Donald Trump some of his border wall money and takes only incremental steps to address gun violence. As negotiators stumbled toward an end-of-the-week deadline to fund the […]
politics
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage wants to more than double pay for Maine’s next governor
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has again submitted a bill to boost the salary for Maine’s next governor, which at $70,000 a year is the lowest of all 50 states. LePage’s proposal, announced Wednesday, would more than double that salary, boosting it to $150,000 a year. “The Governor of the State of Maine is the […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Matthew Dunlap explains Maine election security, voting rights protection
LEWISTON — Panelists, including Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, assured a state advisory committee Wednesday that elections in Maine are secure, and that voting laws in Maine are among the most “protective” when it comes to voting rights. The testimony from Dunlap and others came during a daylong public briefing on voting rights, presented […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Susan Collins' ACA bill may be collapsing
The Affordable Care Act stabilization measures that Maine Sen. Susan Collins sought in return for her vote for the Republican tax reform bill appear to be in danger of collapsing. Democrats and conservative Republicans have failed to come to a consensus that can pass Congress. Collins and several fellow moderate Republicans tried to rally support […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Democratic congressional candidates forum at Bates Thursday
LEWISTON — A candidates forum Thursday at Bates College will bring together four Democrats vying to become Maine’s 2nd District representative. The winner of the June 12 Democratic primary will challenge U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, who has held the seat since 2014. Expected to attend are state Rep. Jared Golden of Lewiston, nonprofit executive Lucas […]
Posted inNation / World
If they were in high school, Joe Biden says he would ‘beat the hell’ out of Trump for disrespecting women
Displeased Americans have found myriad ways to show that they are not particularly pleased with the words President Donald Trump has used when talking about women. Thousands of pink-hat wearing protesters descended on Washington, D.C. and other cities the day after Trump was inaugurated – then many came back a year later. The faculty at […]
Posted inNation / World
Trump’s national security advisers warned him not to congratulate Putin. He did it anyway.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump did not follow specific warnings from his national security advisers when he congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday on his reelection, including a section in his briefing materials in all-capital letters stating “DO NOT CONGRATULATE,” according to officials familiar with the call. Trump also chose not to heed talking points […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage accuses lawmakers of ‘witch hunt’ over diversion of state-owned timber
AUGUSTA — A fired-up Gov. Paul LePage said Tuesday that political tensions over U.S. tariffs on Canadian lumber had no role in a decision to divert state-owned logs away from mills owned by a family critical of his position. LePage told lawmakers they owed him and Maine Forest Service Director Doug Denico apologies for what […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bill to allow guns in cars on school grounds unanimously rejected by Maine House
AUGUSTA — Legislation that would have allowed firearms onto school grounds in Maine, provided they were locked in an occupied vehicle and unloaded, was unanimously rejected by the Maine House on Tuesday. The bill, offered by Rep. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, was introduced prior to a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that claimed 17 lives, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Poliquin 'stress test' financial bill passes House
For U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, it is the little things that count. The sorts of bills often ignored. The stuff that is not flashy. The second-term Republican from Maine’s sprawling 2nd District convinced the House on Tuesday to pass easily a measure that would exempt most non-bank financial institutions from the stress tests required under […]