Swirling through the political world this week is a growing debate about whether U.S. Sen. Susan Collins got snookered, hornswoggled or duped by Republican leaders to gain her vote in favor of a controversial tax overhaul. The Maine Republican cast her ballot for the $1.5 trillion proposal at least in part because she secured a promise from […]
politics
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House tax bill threatens to scuttle hundreds of new low-income housing units in Maine
A provision in the House Republican tax reform bill could eliminate funding for hundreds of new low-income apartments and home loans in Maine, and might substantially increase construction costs for hospitals, colleges and other institutions. Maine’s congressional delegation is rallying to try to save an obscure program called private activity bonds that was eliminated in […]
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Paul Ryan won’t commit to deal that Susan Collins was promised for her tax reform vote
House Speaker Paul Ryan told staff Tuesday that he wasn’t part of the deal that Sen. Susan Collins obtained from Senate Republican leaders to secure her support for a tax reform bill being negotiated between the two bodies of Congress. According to a report in The Hill, the Wisconsin Republican said he had not given the same […]
Posted inMaine
Ryan Zinke says Katahdin monument will create ‘healthy forest,’ recreation space
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Tuesday he did not recommend that President Trump alter the size or boundaries of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, but said the land could be managed to promote a “healthy forest” and traditional recreation. Zinke said commercial logging is not allowed within 87,500-acre Katahdin Woods and Waters, ending speculation […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Poliquin urges action to aid 'Dreamers' this month
Congress should approve legislation this month to deal with the undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children and grew up in America, U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin said Tuesday. The 2nd District Republican joined 33 GOP House members in a joint letter seeking action on the controversial issue by year’s end. “While we […]
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Neither Democrats or Republicans have unity over how to avoid shutdown
House Republicans were unsettled Tuesday about how to keep the federal government open after Friday, hours after a group of hard-line conservatives threatened to derail the GOP’s high-profile tax bill in a bid to change developing plans to avoid a shutdown. Democrats, meanwhile, have yet to lay out how they intend to approach the coming […]
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GOP leaders now backing Roy Moore in Alabama race
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leaders in Washington are coming to grips with the possibility — perhaps even probability — that Alabama’s Roy Moore will win his special election next Tuesday and join them in the capital. Looking past allegations of sexual misconduct with Alabama teenagers, President Donald Trump now has endorsed Moore, and the Republican […]
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U.S. Rep. John Conyers announces retirement from Congress
DETROIT (AP) — U.S. Rep. John Conyers — beset with allegations of sexual harassment by former staff members — announced Tuesday that he is retiring. The 88-year-old Conyers made the announcement while speaking with Detroit radio talk show host Mildred Gaddis. He was not clear on when the retirement becomes effective. “I’m in the process […]
Posted inNation / World
Woman shares new evidence of relationship with Roy Moore when she was 17
? DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Debbie Wesson Gibson was in her attic hauling out boxes of Christmas decorations last week when she noticed a storage bin she said she had forgotten about. Inside was a scrapbook from her senior year of high school, and taped to a page titled “Those Who Inspire” was a graduation […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Susan Collins defends controversial tax bill
For U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul is a mixed bag. The Maine Republican, who voted for the Senate version last week, said late Monday the bill “is by no means perfect and it’s not the bill I would have drafted.” But, she said, it offers hope for tax relief that’s worth […]