WASHINGTON — The House Budget Committee voted narrowly Thursday to advance the troubled Republican health care bill, with defections by three GOP conservatives underscoring the obstacles party leaders face in maneuvering to avoid a stinging setback to their showpiece legislation. The vote was 19-17, with Democrats unanimously voting no. Had one more Republican joined them, […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web, Uncategorized
Shenna Bellows and Eric Brakey ask Trump to repeal Real ID law
AUGUSTA — Legislators want Republican President Donald Trump to issue an executive order repealing ID standards they say jeopardize privacy. Democratic Sen. Shenna Bellows and Republican Sen. Eric Brakey say they’re asking legislators nationwide to sign a letter requesting the order. The federal Real ID Act of 2005 set security standards for driver’s licenses and […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web, Uncategorized
2 federal judges find new Trump travel ban discriminatory
GREENBELT, Md. — Rejecting arguments from the government that President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban was substantially different from the first one, judges in Hawaii and Maryland blocked the executive order from taking effect as scheduled on Thursday, using the president’s own words as evidence that the order discriminates against Muslims. The rulings in Hawaii […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web, Uncategorized
McDonald's investigates how anti-Trump tweet was posted
NEW YORK — McDonald’s says it has been notified by Twitter that its account was “compromised” after it appeared to send a message calling Donald Trump “a disgusting excuse of a President.” The tweet to Trump from the official account for McDonald’s Corp., a message that has since been deleted but was captured in a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web, Uncategorized
Gov. Paul LePage cites energy costs as reason to not sign budget
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s office says he didn’t sign a $29 million spending package because of concerns with allocations to an energy efficiency program. Spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said LePage agrees with elements of the budget. But she said he’s deeply concerned that Maine now is 11th highest in the nation in energy costs […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web, Uncategorized
County jails seek $2.9 million from state to cover shortfall
AUGUSTA — Officials representing eight county jails in Maine that are facing shortfalls have asked the state for $2.9 million in additional annual funding. Law enforcement and corrections officials said the 2015 overhaul of the state’s county jail system has failed to fix housing and budgetary issues. Legislators are proposing bills to reform funding, reduce […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web, Uncategorized
$29 million spending plan becomes law without LePage signature
AUGUSTA — A $29 million spending package that bolsters Maine’s rainy day fund and expands access to drug treatment has become law. The supplemental budget for the fiscal year ending in June became law Wednesday without GOP Gov. Paul LePage’s signature. Lawmakers are continuing to hold hearings on the governor’s separate $6.8 billion, two-year budget […]
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Donald Trump fires back at Snoop Dogg over mock shooting video
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is firing back at Snoop Dogg days after the release of a music video in which the rapper points a toy gun at a clown dressed like Trump and pulls the trigger. Trump tweeted Wednesday morning: “Can you imagine what the outcry would be if @SnoopDogg, failing career and all, […]
