AUBURN — When Russia attacked America’s election in 2016, it didn’t change any votes directly but it “absolutely” achieved its chief aim, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said Friday. The Maine Republican said Russia’s goal was to sow discord among voters in the United States, she said, and it proved so successful that the country remains […]
politics
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Mainers denounce Trump's vulgar comments on African countries
Both of Maine’s senators and many others denounced President Donald Trump’s use of a vulgar slur while describing immigration from Haiti and Africa. Participants in a private White House session with members of Congress said Thursday that Trump repeatedly called African nations “shithole countries” during the meeting, an assertion that Trump denied in a vague […]
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Trump administration opens door to work requirements for Mainers who benefit from Medicaid
Gov. Paul LePage cheered the Trump administration Thursday after Medicaid officials opened the door for states to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients, a policy long sought by Maine’s Republican governor. Progressive groups, meanwhile, roundly criticized the move and threatened legal action, arguing that receiving medical care helps people stay healthy enough to work. Maine […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Donald Trump denies he used vulgarity to describe African countries
WASHINGTON (AP) — In bluntly vulgar language, President Donald Trump questioned Thursday why the U.S. would accept more immigrants from Haiti and “shithole countries” in Africa rather than places like Norway, as he rejected a bipartisan immigration deal, according to people briefed on the extraordinary Oval Office conversation. Trump on Friday denied using that language. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Trump administration to destroy voter data
In an apparent effort to avoid turning documents over to Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, the Trump administration has told a federal judge it will destroy the voter registration data that some states forwarded to the president’s voter fraud commission. The White House director for information technology, Charles C. Herndon, revealed the administration’s new […]
Posted inNation / World
Donald Trump goes profane, denigrates Africa, Haiti in immigration discussion
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump grew frustrated with lawmakers Thursday in the Oval Office when they floated restoring protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of a bipartisan immigration deal, according to two people briefed on the meeting. “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
What’s an autocycle? Maine lawmakers trying to figure it out
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers are pondering what to do with a proposal that would create a new class of on-the-road vehicle that amounts to a cross between a motorcycle and an automobile. There’s a push nationally to clarify the rules for so-called autocycles, which are basically enclosed, three-wheel vehicles that operate much like a car but […]
Posted inMaine
Maine lawmakers trying to rein in large medical marijuana growers
AUGUSTA — State lawmakers want to overhaul Maine’s medical marijuana caregiver program. On Wednesday, the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee held hearings on seven new medical cannabis bills, ranging from a plan to tax adult-use cannabis to pay for medical cannabis testing to a bill that would allow opioid addicts to qualify for medical […]
Posted inNation / World
Susan Collins and Angus King support net neutrality restoration
PORTLAND (AP) — Maine’s U.S. senators say they are getting behind an effort to restore “net neutrality” rules. Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King say they support a bipartisan Congressional Review Act resolution to bring back net neutrality, which was repealed by the Federal Communications Commission last month. Collins and King say […]
Posted inMaine
Pro-cannabis Trump supporters want Sessions to rethink enforcement
PORTLAND (AP) — The Trump administration’s anti-marijuana move has some members of the president’s voting base fuming. Fans of President Donald Trump who use marijuana say Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ move to tighten federal oversight of the drug is the first time they’ve felt let down by the man they helped elect. The move feels […]