AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has asked the president for a disaster declaration to help recover from a powerful wind storm that knocked out power for more than half of the state’s homes and businesses. The storm on the day before Halloween toppled drought-weakened trees, left roads impassable and knocked down more than […]
politics
Posted inNation / World
Christmas becomes another front in Donald Trump’s culture wars
WASHINGTON — In a St. Louis suburb this week to sell the Republican tax bill, President Donald Trump appeared on stage with twin symbols of his vision of the country’s heritage – a pair of American flags and a row of Christmas trees, adorned with red, white and blue ornaments. “I told you that we […]
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Posted inNation / World
GOP leaders scramble to save tax bill
WASHINGTON — A fast-moving Senate Republican effort to overhaul the tax code unexpectedly stalled Thursday evening over concerns about the federal deficit, leaving the GOP without a clear plan to pass the legislation. Senate leadership, who had hoped to vote to pass the $1.5 trillion tax bill by late Thursday night, instead sent lawmakers home […]
Posted inNation / World
Susan Collins pushes amendments to GOP tax plan to address ‘a lot of concerns’
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, whose vote could make or break an effort to overhaul the nation’s tax system, offered several amendments Thursday to move the tax reform bill to the political center. Collins’ proposals to add tax breaks for medical expenses, restore some state and local tax deductions, and improve the child care tax credit […]
Posted inNation / World, Op-Eds
I’m on Trump’s voter fraud commission; I’m suing it to find out what it’s doing
On Nov. 9, I filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Washington, seeking to obtain the working documents, correspondence and schedule of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. What’s remarkable about my lawsuit is that I’m a member of the commission, and apparently this is the only way I can find out what […]
Posted inNation / World
White House readies plan to replace Rex Tillerson with Mike Pompeo, install Tom Cotton at CIA
WASHINGTON — The White House has readied a plan to oust embattled Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replace him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who has become one of the most personally loyal and politically savvy members of President Donald Trump’s national security team, two administration officials confirmed Thursday. The plan, hatched by White […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Donald Trump retweets anti-Muslim videos from far-right British group
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump retweeted a string of inflammatory videos Wednesday that purported to show violence being committed by Muslims, drawing quick condemnation from civil rights groups who said the president was fanning anti-Muslim sentiment just as he did during his presidential campaign. Trump retweeted videos from Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of the […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Growing pressure on Rep. John Conyers to resign after new accusations
DETROIT (AP) — Pressure from fellow Democrats grew for Michigan Rep. John Conyers to resign after a former staffer said the longest-serving member of the House made unwanted sexual advances that included partially undressing in front of her in a hotel room and inappropriate touching. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi pressured the 88-year-old Conyers behind […]
Posted inMaine
State funding for Maine’s public schools declined 9 percent from 2008 to 2015
Local residents have been picking up an increasing portion of education costs in Maine in the years since the recession, according to an analysis of state budget documents by a think tank in Washington, D.C. State funding for Maine’s K-12 public schools declined 9 percent between 2008 and 2015, says the report, released Wednesday by […]
Posted inNation / World
Negotiations may move Susan Collins to vote ‘yes’ on tax reform bill
Updated 6:20 a.m.: Sen. Susan Collins emerged from a meeting Tuesday with President Trump and signaled she could be a “yes” vote on a sweeping tax reform bill pending in Congress. The Maine moderate previously had expressed reservations about many components of the bill, such as the expiration of tax cuts for individuals after 10 years while […]