Updated 8:40 a.m.: President Donald Trump has signed the budget deal. Trump tweets, “Just signed Bill. Our Military will now be stronger than ever before. We love and need our Military and gave them everything — and more. First time this has happened in a long time. Also means JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!” The House narrowly passed […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Senate rejects Nate Libby's pedestrian-safety bill
AUGUSTA — A bill to make more money available to municipalities for pedestrian-safety projects appeared dead after failing on an 18-17 party-line vote in the Senate Thursday. Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, sponsored the bill and said he is “increasingly disappointed” that lawmakers turned down the measure. The Maine Department of Transportation had said the new […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Campaigns unsure how ranked-choice voting will affect Maine elections
AUGUSTA — As politicians prepare to face the first-ever congressional election using ranked-choice voting, most admit they have almost no idea how it will affect the results. Ask a political insider how the new voting system will weigh on the primary campaigns waged by Democrats seeking to face Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin this year and the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Pot advocates help finance gubernatorial bid of leading marijuana opponent
The leaders of Legalize Maine are backing the gubernatorial candidate who has led the political effort to keep the state’s recreational marijuana market closed. Every member of Legalize Maine’s five-person board of directors has donated to House Minority Leader Ken Fredette’s gubernatorial campaign, accounting for almost one out of every five dollars the Newport Republican […]
Posted inMaine
LePage administration proposes annual fee on electric, hybrid cars
The LePage administration is proposing to make it more expensive to own a hybrid or electric vehicle in Maine. The Maine Department of Transportation wants to impose an annual registration fee on the vehicles, $150 for gas-electric hybrid cars and $250 for all-electric models. An extra fee is needed to make hybrid and all-electric owners […]
Posted inBusiness
Complaints over new state unemployment system still pouring in
Months after the state unveiled a new system that Mainers must use to file claims for unemployment benefits, frustrated state legislators still are reporting problems their constituents are having with it. Rep. Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, said complaints about the new system are continuing to come in to him every week, and that the House Democratic […]
Posted inMaine, News
Look for a lobster emoji to surface this year
The panel that decides such things has officially unveiled a new digital image of a little red lobster in response to a Maine-based petition drive. Maine’s signature sea creature will soon be one of the “emoji” pictograms available for electronic messaging. The Unicode Consortium, the nonprofit governing body responsible for determining which emojis get added […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Congressional contender Tim Rich alleges 'rigged game' in Democratic primary
Democratic congressional candidate Tim Rich is fed up with the Democratic Party. Rich, a Bar Harbor cafe owner, said Wednesday he will likely quit the race this month rather than continue a campaign he doubts he can win. “I believe in a fair fight, but there is no nobility in losing a rigged game,” Rich […]
Posted inNation / World
Senate leaders announce 2-year budget deal
WASHINGTON (AP) — Coverage of Congress and spending legislation (all times local): Updated 12:50 p.m. The Senate’s top Republican says there’s Senate agreement on a two-year, almost $400 billion budget deal that would provide Pentagon and domestic programs with huge spending increases. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the pact, joined on the Senate floor […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
New budget barrier: Nancy Pelosi opposes pact if no 'Dreamer' help
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House’s top Democrat swung out against a bipartisan budget deal taking shape in the Senate on Wednesday, splashing cold water on a two-year plan packed with almost $400 billion worth of additional funding for the Pentagon, domestic programs and disaster aid. That raises anew the possibility of a government shutdown at […]