Last summer, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services publicly touted plans to use more than $3 million in unspent federal welfare funds in an “innovative” way that would direct more money to services for elderly and disabled Mainers. The transfer, Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew said at the time, represented a “reprioritizing […]
politics
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Obama immigration plan blocked by 4-4 tie at Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — A tie vote by the Supreme Court is blocking President Barack Obama’s immigration plan that sought to shield millions living in the U.S. illegally from deportation. The justices’ one-sentence opinion on Thursday effectively kills the plan for the duration of Obama’s presidency. A tie vote sets no national precedent but leaves in place […]
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Gov. Paul LePage blames lobbyists for blocking prosperity
Gov. Paul LePage hosted a lively town hall meeting in Richmond on Wednesday with one of the most supportive audiences he’s seen on the tour, which began last year. Several people stood up to thank him for his work and he drew applause after applause as he discussed issues ranging from the five referendums on […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Fact Check: Donald Trump vs. Hillary Rodham Clinton
WASHINGTON — In a speech skewering Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump assigned her far more influence than she had as secretary of state as he blamed her directly for a host of foreign policy ills. He also peddled some suspect allegations that she used her time as the top diplomat to enrich herself. Trump accused Clinton […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
USDA says Paul LePage’s threat can end food stamps in Maine
PORTLAND — If Gov. Paul LePage follows through on this threat to cede Maine’s administration of the federal food stamp program, the federal agricultural agency said it can’t run it, due to a lack of authority and funding. Maine unsuccessfully applied for a waiver to ban using food stamps for buying sugary drinks and candy. […]
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Rep. Chellie Pingree joins gun protest on U.S. House floor
WASHINGTON — Rebellious Democrats disrupted the House’s legislative work on Wednesday, staging a sit-in on the House floor and refusing to leave until they secured a vote on gun control measures. Exasperated Republicans were forced to recess while cutting off the C-SPAN cameras that showed the protest. A group of nearly 100 Democrats led by […]
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Nearly 1 in 3 Medicare beneficiaries get opioid prescriptions
CHICAGO — Nearly 12 million Medicare beneficiaries received at least one prescription for an opioid painkiller last year at a cost of $4.1 billion, according to a federal report that shows how common the addictive drugs are in many older Americans’ medicine cabinets. With an overdose epidemic worsening, nearly one-third of Medicare beneficiaries received at […]
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Donald Trump calls Hillary Rodham Clinton a ‘world class liar’
NEW YORK — Donald Trump launched a broad rebuke of his presidential rival Hillary Clinton Wednesday, accusing her of being “a world class liar” who personally profited from her tenure at the State Department. “She gets rich making you poor,” Trump said. Seeking to steady his campaign after a difficult stretch, the presumptive Republican nominee […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Donald Trump lays out goals for 1st 100 days of presidency
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. presidential campaign. (all times EDT): Updated 11:30 a.m.: Donald Trump is laying out a number of goals for the first 100 days of his potential presidential administration. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee says he would “appoint judges who uphold the Constitution,” reform the nation’s immigration policies and […]
Posted inMaine
Casino petition company complains Horseracing Jobs Fairness owes money
New documents filed with a state ethics panel provide an inside look at a rushed, expensive and ultimately unsuccessful campaign by a developer to get a new casino in southern Maine. The effort was funded with more than $2 million by the sister of Las Vegas casino developer Shawn Scott, who would have had the […]