LEWISTON — After playing a big role in the demise of a national voter-fraud commission that he feared could limit access to the polls, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap was hailed by some as a hero. But he is not buying it. “I’m no Rosa Parks,” Dunlap told a crowd Wednesday at the Muskie […]
politics
Posted inNation / World, News
Source: White House Communications Director Hope Hicks resigning
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, one of President Donald Trump’s most loyal aides, is resigning. The departure of one of the president’s longest-serving advisers, who worked as a one-woman communications shop during his winning campaign, came as a surprise to most in the White House — and cast a pall […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Rev. Billy Graham, praised as 'America's pastor,' brought to Capitol Rotunda
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s political leaders bowed their heads for a solemn salute Wednesday to the Rev. Billy Graham in the soaring Capitol Rotunda, paying tribute to a man who ministered to presidents and other Americans of both parties. “Here lies America’s pastor,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan, gesturing to Graham’s casket under the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Controversial bill to give BIW tax credits stalls in State House, extending foe’s food strike
AUGUSTA — A controversial proposal to provide Bath Iron Works with $60 million in tax credits remains stalled in a legislative committee even as a veteran peace activist’s “hunger strike” on the issue entered its second week. Members of the Legislature’s Taxation Committee on Tuesday delayed a vote on BIW’s request for up to $60 […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
White House downgrades Jared Kushner's security clearance
WASHINGTON (AP) — The security clearance of White House senior adviser and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner has been downgraded, significantly reducing his access to classified information, according to two people informed of the decision. Kushner had been operating with an interim clearance at the “top secret/sensitive compartmented information” level for more than a year. Now […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage’s bill to protect elderly from tax lien foreclosure stripped
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee on Tuesday issued a three-way report on a bill that originally sought to protect the elderly from tax lien foreclosure. The 7-3-1 “ought to pass” vote on LD 1629 followed a lengthy discussion by the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation on an amendment presented to the committee by Nick Adolphsen, senior policy […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine lawmakers to decide whether to tackle gun bills
AUGUSTA – State House leaders are expected Tuesday to decide whether to allow emergency bills to boost security at public schools and ban bump stocks in Maine to move forward after a school shooter in Florida this month killed 17 people. The bills, one offered by Rep. Scott Hamann, D-South Portland, and the other offered […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Trump aide Hope Hicks appears before House panel in Russia probe
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s longtime aide Hope Hicks was meeting with the House intelligence committee Tuesday for a closed-door interview as part of the panel’s Russia investigation. Hicks arrived shortly after 10 a.m. through a rear entrance to the committee’s interview space and did not answer shouted questions from reporters. The panel is […]
Posted inMaine
Republican candidates for governor back gun ownership at Colby College debate
WATERVILLE — The five Republican candidates for governor attempted to set each other apart from one another Monday night at Colby College during the first debate ahead of the fall election. In the Ostrove Auditorium, the candidates — state Rep. Kenneth Fredette, former commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services Mary Mayhew, businessman […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Donald Trump urges lawmakers to buck NRA every once in a while
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump declared he’s willing to take on the National Rifle Association over gun legislation, but Republicans who control Congress aren’t so sure. They prefer to consider only modest changes to firearms limits in response to the mass shooting at a Florida high school. Congress returned to work Monday without following […]