WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leaders added a penalty for people who’ve let their insurance lapse Monday as party leaders prepared to begin pushing their health care measure through the Senate, despite a rebellion within GOP ranks. Under the new provision, people who’ve had at least a 63-day gap in coverage during the past year and […]
politics
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Susan Collins says she is waiting on health care bill's CBO score
A key moderate Republican senator said Sunday she’s waiting for a Congressional Budget Office score to finalize her position on the Senate bill to repeal and replace Obamacare and that she has concerns about the measure’s impact on older and rural Americans. “I have very serious concerns about the bill,” Sen. Susan Collins of Maine […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
State House efforts to combat drug epidemic gets mixed reviews
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine lawmakers hope new laws expanding access to the opioid reversal drug naloxone will stem overdose deaths. But advocacy groups say Maine hasn’t done enough prevention and treatment in the midst of a crisis. Drug overdose deaths in the state rose to 376 last year, from 208 in 2014. Republican Gov. Paul […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Barack Obama tried to secretly punish Russia for election assault
WASHINGTON — Early last August, an envelope with extraordinary handling restrictions arrived at the White House. Sent by courier from the CIA, it carried “eyes only” instructions that its contents be shown to just four people: President Barack Obama and three senior aides. Inside was an intelligence bombshell, a report drawn from sourcing deep inside […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Donald Trump suggests he was trying to keep James Comey honest
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump suggested he was just trying to keep fired FBI Director James Comey honest with his cryptic tweet implying there might be recordings of their private conversations. Trump ended a monthlong guessing game Thursday by tweeting that he never made and doesn’t have recordings of his private conversations with Comey. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bill would give preference to Maine, U.S. companies
AUGUSTA (AP) — A Democratic senator’s bill to give preference to Maine and U.S. companies in state contracts is receiving support in the Senate. Lawmakers voted Thursday to approve Sen. Troy Jackson’s bill that would give preference among similar bids to in-state contractors. Republican Sen. Tom Saviello’s amendment would allow businesses to qualify as in-state […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Angus King blasts GOP healthcare bill while Susan Collins studies it
Denouncing a new Republican health care bill Thursday, independent U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine called it a “really cruel” bid to take health care away from the poor, disabled and elderly “so very wealthy people can get a tax cut.” While King offered harsh words about the proposed overhaul of the Affordable Care Act, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Future of new ranked-choice voting system remains unclear
AUGUSTA (AP) — The future of Maine’s statewide voting system approved by voters last fall remains unclear as lawmakers debate. The state Supreme Judicial Court this year issued a nonbinding decision that the method is unconstitutional when it comes to elections for governor and state lawmakers. The law, as it stands, would allow residents to […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine lawmakers consider raising smoking age to 21
AUGUSTA (AP) — A Maine Republican’s bill to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21 is headed to the House. The Maine Senate on Thursday voted 31-4 against an effort to kill the bill. The bill also expands the definition of tobacco products to include electronic smoking devices. The amended bill would […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage says no to 'noxious' spinach bill
AUGUSTA — Water spinach sounds like something Popeye would appreciate. But Gov. Paul LePage has a different take on the vegetable. A tasty green that’s long been a staple in Southeast Asia and Brazil, water spinach is listed as a federal noxious weed under the U.S. Plant Protection Act. As one of 112 federally recognized […]