ARLINGTON, Va. — Three days after Election Day, President Barack Obama used his last Veterans Day speech to urge Americans to learn from the example of veterans as a divided nation seeks to “forge unity” after the bitter 2016 campaign. Obama, in remarks at Arlington National Cemetery, noted that Veterans Day often comes on the […]
politics
Posted inMaine, sj-web
No On 1 campaign picks up papers for recount of marijuana ballots
PORTLAND — Opponents of a vote to legalize marijuana in Maine have taken the first step toward a potential recount request. Voters in the state chose to legalize recreational marijuana via a referendum vote this week. The referendum won approval by a fraction of a percentage point after a count that took nearly two days. […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine starts planning ranked choice voting systems
PORTLAND — Mainers have voted for a radical overhaul of elections, and now there’s much work to be done before the first statewide ranked-choice system is implemented. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said that he’ll be meeting in coming weeks with legislative leaders and ranked-choice voting advocates to start the implementation process. And he’s already […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Ken Fredette, Ellie Espling keep House GOP leadership positions
AUGUSTA — Maine House Republicans have wasted little time in selecting leaders after Election Day. The 73 members of the House Republican caucus on Thursday voted to stick with House Speaker Ken Fredette of Newport as GOP leader and Rep. Ellie Espling of New Gloucester as assistant GOP leader. This is Fredette’s third term as […]
Posted inLetters
My right to peace and quiet
I am ashamed of the political process and the accompanying behavior. I have had no less than eight people a day banging on my door for weeks, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. I have had phone calls at 5:30 a.m. My phone has rung hundreds of times and I have gotten dozens of texts […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Barack Obama, Donald Trump have an ‘excellent’ meeting at White House
At the close of the Oval Office sit-down, Obama said to Trump, “We now are going to want to do everything we can to help you succeed because if you succeed the country succeeds.” The two men, who have been harshly critical of each other for years, were meeting for the first time, Trump said. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Garrett Mason and Maine Senate GOP leaders keep posts
AUGUSTA — The Republican leadership of the Maine Senate will remain unchanged for the next two years, following elections at the State House on Thursday. Sen. Mike Thibodeau of Winterport will return as Maine Senate president after his 17 colleagues in the newly seated body elected him unanimously. With the vote, Thibodeau became the first […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage says Sen. Susan Collins is ‘done in Maine’
Gov. Paul LePage told WGAN on Wednesday that “we saved the country” by electing Donald Trump, but he hasn’t moved to the conciliatory phase just yet with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, another Republican heavy-hitter. “I think Susan Collins is done in Maine,” he said when asked if she was going to run for governor in 2018. He cited her […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Marijuana to become legal in Maine; Question 1 passes with narrow margin
UPDATED 2:54 P.M. | PORTLAND — Maine voters have approved a ballot question making recreational marijuana legal for adults age 21 or older. The proposal will allow Maine residents to cultivate, manufacture, distribute, test and sell marijuana and marijuana products. Marijuana will be taxed at 10 percent and subject to local restrictions. The vote was […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Diane Russell, Jeff McCabe consider vying for Maine Democratic chair
Outgoing state Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, confirmed late Wednesday that she’ll run to replace Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett at the state committee’s next meeting Nov. 20, while term-limited House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe, D-Skowhegan, said he’s considering a run. In a first, Maine split its presidential electors this year, giving the one from the […]