Two bills unveiled by Gov. Paul LePage on Tuesday would raise his successor’s salary and shrink the Maine Legislature by about a third in 2018. The Republican governor’s bills were referenced to a legislative committee on Tuesday, but they may not go anywhere, if only because they were introduced in the waning days of the 2016 session. It’s scheduled to end on […]
politics
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Police charge Trump campaign manager with battery
WASHINGTON — Florida police have charged Donald Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski with simple battery in connection with an incident earlier in the month involving a reporter. Police in Jupiter, Florida, issued Lewandowski a notice Tuesday to appear before a judge on May 4 for the misdemeanor charge. A surveillance video released by the police […]
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Posted inBusiness, sj-web
U.S. Supreme Court deadlocks on union fees dispute
WASHINGTON — A tie vote from the Supreme Court on Tuesday handed a win to labor unions in a high-profile dispute over their ability to collect fees. The justices divided 4-4 in a case that considered whether public employees represented by a union can be required to pay “fair share” fees covering collective bargaining costs […]
Posted inLivermore Falls Advertiser, Maine
Bills to expand veterans’ bureau, provide tuition hit wall in House
AUGUSTA — Legislation to increase funding for the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services and provide free tuition to members of the Maine National Guard has hit a political brick wall at the State House. The bill was tabled Wednesday after more than 90 minutes of debate in the House as lawmakers sharply disagreed over how […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Legislature has to clear 280 bills by April 20
As the Legislature nears its supposed adjournment date, there are signs that the tension is mounting as numerous bills create a bottleneck headed into consideration by the full Legislature. This week marks scheduling changes for the House and Senate, which met only twice weekly for most of the session and then moved to three times […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislature has bill that aims to restrict painkiller prescriptions
AUGUSTA — The Legislature is poised to pass a bill sponsored by Gov. Paul LePage that would put the state on the front line of a national movement to monitor and restrict opioid painkillers. The Republican’s bill would limit prescriptions to seven days for acute pain and 15 days for chronic pain, and cap dosages at […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Delegation wants Obama to fight EU ban on Maine lobster
PORTLAND — Maine’s congressional delegation is asking the Obama administration to resist efforts to ban the import of live Maine lobsters by European Union countries. The delegation said Monday in a letter that the discovery of a small number of American lobsters in Swedish waters hardly represents an “invasion.” Sweden contends the American lobsters could […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine House OKs bill to force Paul LePage to issue housing bond
AUGUSTA — A top Democrat’s maneuver to force Gov. Paul LePage to issue a voter-approved housing bond passed the Maine House of Representatives Monday, but stiff Republican opposition could bode badly for the bill. The $15 million bond was backed by 69 percent of voters in November, but LePage’s office says he’s holding it up […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Georgia governor to veto religious exemption bill
ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday said he will veto legislation shielding opponents of same-sex marriage, after a groundswell of opposition from companies threatening to boycott the state if it became law. The Republican announced his decision during a news conference in his office at the Georgia Capitol, saying, “I have examined the […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage blames environmentalists for ‘job-crushing, anti-business policies’
Gov. Paul LePage has long been known for his personal letters to Mainers and they don’t always end with “Love, Paul.” In fact, in these letters the barbs can be frequent. On March 14, Neil Gallagher of Brunswick sent the governor an angry letter lamenting his use of “wanted” posters at recent public appearances. The posters […]