AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine voters have approved a special referendum election to invest $50 million in technology. The proposal asked voters if they wanted the Maine Technology Institute to distribute $45 million in grants for upgrades in aquaculture, marine technology, forestry and agriculture. The Small Enterprise Growth Fund would direct another $5 million to small […]
politics
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
FBI says James Hodgkinson acted alone in shooting of congressman
The gunman who opened fire on a GOP baseball team in Virginia had a local storage locker with more than 200 rounds of ammunition that he visited daily including less than an hour before he shot more than 60 times at the team during a morning practice June 14. A list containing the names of […]
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Analysis: Democrats' loss in Georgia underscores party challenges
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans just got a big argument for sticking with President Donald Trump and pushing forward with dismantling “Obamacare.” And Democrats are looking almost incapable of translating the energy of their core supporters into actual election wins. Tuesday night’s outcome in a Georgia special House race was a triumph for the GOP, and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislature extends session an extra 5 days to work on budget
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine lawmakers voted to extend the legislative session by five days in an attempt to hash out budget deal amid lawmakers wrapping up debates on key bills and the threat of a potential state government shutdown looming. The House voted 111-31 on Wednesday to extend the session, hours after the Senate voted 33-0 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
House Dems, GOP spar over police bills, highway funding and procedure
The Legislature will breeze past its scheduled adjournment Wednesday because of the two-year budget impasse, but things got testy Tuesday about what seemed like everything but the budget. In the House of Representatives, Republicans attacked Democrats for supposedly not backing police. In the Senate, Democrats hit Republicans who backed what they called an anti-abortion bill. Even Maine’s uncontroversial $1.4 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine lawmakers vote to ban use of handheld phones while driving
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine drivers may soon only be able to use cellphones and electronic devices with hands-free technology. The Maine House voted 85-60 Tuesday to pass the bill limiting the cellphone use, joining the Senate which voted last week voted 21-14 in favor of the measure. It’s unclear whether Republican Gov. Paul LePage would […]
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Susan Collins pushes bill to promote saving for retirement
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins proposed legislation Tuesday that would help small businesses offer retirement plans and make it easier for people to put money aside. Collins told colleagues that many seniors in Maine “rely almost entirely on Social Security to cover their monthly expenses, despite the fact that the average annual benefit is only about […]
Posted inMaine
Janet Mills joins other attorneys general to probe cause of opioid crisis
AUGUSTA — Maine’s attorney general is joining most of her counterparts in other states to probe the sales and marketing efforts of opioid manufacturers. “We need to get the genie back in the pill bottle,” Attorney General Janet Mills said. “Our society is awash in pills and it is killing us.” More than half of […]
Posted inMaine
Bill to prohibit discussing wage history with employers faces uncertain future
AUGUSTA (AP) — A bill to prohibit employers from seeking information about a prospective employee’s prior wage history faces an uncertain future after passing the Maine House and Senate. The Democratic-controlled House on Monday voted 79-68 in favor of Democratic Sen. Cathy Breen’s bill in an initial round of votes. The Republican-controlled Senate voted 22-13 […]
Posted inNation / World
GOP budget deadlock imperils Donald Trump’s hopes for tax overhaul
WASHINGTON (AP) — If Republicans can’t pass a budget, forget about a major overhaul of the nation’s tax code — at least if they want a GOP-only approach with President Donald Trump that would avoid Democratic delaying tactics. Congressional Republicans are struggling to first figure out a budget, but despite weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, they […]