NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony to unveil artifacts from the World Trade Center and Berlin Wall for the new NATO headquarters, Thursday, May 25, 2017, in Brussels. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel at the Royal Palace, […]
politics
Posted inMaine
Eric Brakey’s bid to limit TANF payments faces long odds
AUGUSTA — A proposal to slice the lifetime time limit for adults to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits by 40 percent failed this week to secure support in the Senate and faces long odds in the House. Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, is seeking to reduce the cap on the federally-funded benefits from 60 […]
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Posted inMaine
Democrats threaten to shut down Maine government over school funding
With less than a month left before statutory adjournment, Democrats have threatened to shut down government if state funding for schools doesn’t reach 55 percent. Fifty-two Democratic and two independent House members, along with four Democratic senators, have signed a pact to oppose any budget bill that doesn’t have “a progressive and sustainable funding source […]
Posted inNation / World
Donald Trump meets with EU leaders
BRUSSELS — Visiting a city he once called a “hellhole” to meet with the leaders of one alliance he threatened to abandon and another whose weakening he cheered, President Donald Trump will address a continent Thursday still reeling from his election and anxious about his support. Trump traveled Thursday morning to the European Union headquarters […]
Posted inMaine
After CBO report, Susan Collins sees new hope for her health care bill
The health care bill pushed through recently by the U.S. House suffered a potentially crippling blow Wednesday when the Congressional Budget Office declared it would cause 23 million Americans to lose insurance coverage during the next decade. It said in particular the plan would become too costly for many people, particularly older, sicker Americans who […]
Posted inMaine
Gov. Paul LePage addresses Auburn-Lewiston Rotary Club breakfast
LEWISTON — Gov. Paul LePage attended the Auburn-Lewiston Rotary Club’s breakfast as their guest speaker Wednesday. The governor talked about ranked-choice voting, something he’s been vocally opposing since it was voted into law in November Maine’s Supreme Court released an “advisory opinion” Tuesday, stating the new law is a violation of the state’s Constitution which […]
Posted inMaine
Katahdin Woods and Waters fans hang their own signs for national monument
#resist #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/k9Pe6E3kjC — Lisa Ammerman (@atimberedchoir) May 24, 2017 BENEDICTA — Maine’s governor is refusing to allow road signs to be installed for a new national monument, so supporters of the park are taking matters into their own hands. Fans of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument hung a banner advertising the park from a highway […]
Posted inMaine
Mary Mayhew to resign as head of DHHS
AUGUSTA — Mary Mayhew, who has served as Maine commissioner of Health and Human Services since the beginning of Gov. Paul LePage’s tenure, will be leaving that post Friday. LePage announced her departure Wednesday in a prepared statement, in which he said she did an “exceptional job” at the helm of state government’s largest department. […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Republicans, Democrats at odds in budget negotiations
AUGUSTA — Democrats and Republicans have until the end of June to enact a state budget but both sides see the biggest sticking point as a voter-approved tax on high earners to fund schools. Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon said a budget should be coming out of the Legislature’s appropriation committee by no later than June […]
Posted inMaine
Education committee opposes statewide teacher contract bill
AUGUSTA (AP) — A key legislative committee has voted against a bill to create a uniform teacher contract across Maine. The Portland Press Herald reported (http://bit.ly/2rgcQQN ) the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee opposed the bill, 6-5, even after concessions from the bill’s sponsor on Tuesday. Republican Gov. Paul LePage says the idea would help […]