WASHINGTON (AP) — For a brief moment after the Las Vegas massacre last fall, Republicans and Democrats in Congress talked about taking a rare step to tighten the nation’s gun laws. Four months later, the only gun legislation that has moved in the House or Senate instead eases restrictions for gun owners. The October deaths […]
politics
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Lewiston-Auburn superintendents oppose bill to allow guns on school property
Top school officials in Lewiston and Auburn say they oppose a proposed law that would allow firearms on school property in Maine. A bill to permit unloaded and locked guns on school grounds is before the Legislature’s education committee. Superintendents Bill Webster of Lewiston and Katherine Grondin of Auburn spoke against the bill at a […]
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Posted inNation / World
U.S. Senate rejects immigration plan backed by Susan Collins, Angus King
WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Senate rejected a bipartisan plan Thursday to help young “Dreamer” immigrants and parcel out money for the wall President Donald Trump wants with Mexico, as Republican leaders joined with the White House and scuttled what seemed the likeliest chance for sweeping immigration legislation this election year. The vote came after […]
Posted inNation / World
Susan Collins and Angus King take lead on immigration proposal
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of senators reached a deal on immigration Wednesday as President Donald Trump attempted to preemptively undercut the proposal by delivering an ultimatum: Pass my plan or risk a veto. The self-dubbed “Common Sense Caucus” of senators late Wednesday circulated legislation that would fulfill Trump’s calls to grant legal status to […]
Posted inMaine
Dozens testify on bill to ban the practice of ‘conversion therapy’ on minors in Maine
AUGUSTA – Maine lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban therapy practices for minors that use shame, pain or coercion in an effort to discourage same-sex attraction and alter a person’s sexual orientation. Supporters of the ban say so-called “conversion therapy” does more harm than good and that a person’s true sexual orientation isn’t […]
Posted inMaine
Attorney says Paul LePage scuttled state’s settlement with Wiscasset in traffic dispute
Wiscasset officials have rejected a proposed settlement with the state over a controversial traffic project after a lawyer representing the town told them Gov. Paul LePage intervened to strip out a key concession. The midcoast town of 3,700 has sued the Maine Department of Transportation over its latest effort to mitigate the notorious summertime traffic […]
Posted inMaine
Janet Mills opposes Downeast Correctional Facility’s closing in court
AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Corrections agreed Wednesday to halt equipment removals from the now-vacant Downeast Correctional Facility while a legal case against the LePage administration proceeds. Maine Attorney General Janet Mills, meanwhile, is asking the court to order the administration to transfer prisoners back to Machiasport and halt staff layoffs at the facility […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Garrett Mason first to qualify for Clean Election funding
AUGUSTA — Proving he has a fair amount of grassroots support for his gubernatorial bid, Sen. Garrett Mason became the first candidate seeking the state’s top job to submit enough signatures to qualify for Maine Clean Election funding. The Lisbon Republican on Wednesday submitted the names of more than 3,200 Mainers who donated $5 to […]
Posted inMaine
Owners of hybrids, all-electric vehicles fume over proposed annual fee
Outraged vehicle owners piled into a public hearing Tuesday to denounce a bill from Gov. Paul LePage’s administration that would slap hefty annual fees on hybrid and all-electric vehicles. The Maine Department of Transportation has proposed annual fees of $150 for hybrid vehicles and $250 for electric cars because many owners pay lower gas taxes than drivers […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Facts contradict U.S. Senate contender Max Linn's claims about his past
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Max Linn told GOP officials in two towns last Sunday that he has not run as a Democrat for Congress and never backed Barack Obama’s presidential bid. Both assertions are untrue. As an aspiring politician a decade ago in Florida, the wealthy financial planner did not merely flirt with the opposition […]