AUGUSTA — U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin said at a Wednesday event that he’s “poring through” a massive trade deal with Pacific nations, but he won’t support it if it hurts Maine. The Republican from Maine’s 2nd District was put on the spot about the Trans-Pacific Partnership by Attorney General Janet Mills at a dinner held […]
politics
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislative committee splits on welfare reforms
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers split along party lines repeatedly Thursday as they debated and voted on a series of bills aimed at reforming the state’s welfare system. Democrats on the Health and Human Services Committee expressed outrage over proposals by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services that would spend some of more than $110 million […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislators recall video voter bill from LePage’s desk
AUGUSTA — A bill designed to create a 15-foot buffer zone for video recording voters at the polls was recalled Wednesday from Gov. Paul LePage’s desk for an amendment. LD 1574 was introduced by Democratic Sen. Bill Diamond of Windham this year after reports on Election Day 2015 that an organization calling itself Project Dirigo […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Senate OKs ‘right-to-try’ bill for dying patients
AUGUSTA — A bill that would give dying patients the right to use experimental drugs is winning support in the Maine Legislature. The Senate on Wednesday gave initial approval to the so-called “right to try” bill. The vote was 20-11. The House on Tuesday approved the bill. The legislation would allow patients to use drugs […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Senate votes to kill estate tax
AUGUSTA — A bill that would eliminate the state’s tax on inheritances worth more than $5 million gained approval in the Republican-controlled Maine Senate on Wednesday on an 18-13 party-line vote. But the GOP victory against what they call the “death tax” is likely to be short-lived, as the Democratic-controlled House voted Tuesday to reject […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Sen. Susan Collins hopes GOP will agree to Garland hearings
BANGOR — Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins admits she’s not having much luck trying to sway members of her own party to hold a hearing on President Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court. But she’s hopeful they’ll come around. Collins said Wednesday she’s encouraged that Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley agreed to meet with Judge […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
What you need to know about the U.S. Presidential race
Data curated by InsideGov WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the presidential election (all times local): Updated 10:15 a.m.: Clinton maintains delegate lead Hillary Clinton is closing in on collecting three-quarters of the delegates needed to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination. Bernie Sanders netted more than a dozen delegates after splitting the latest contests with […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Democrats and Republicans poised for new clash on welfare reform
AUGUSTA — Maine Republican and Democratic lawmakers are poised to clash Wednesday over a package of bills aimed at tightening welfare spending and increasing scrutiny for those on the state’s benefits system. Republicans say one measure, offered by Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, will be little more than a paper tiger if it’s amended as Libby […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Land trusts fire back at Paul LePage’s plan to tax them
AUGUSTA — A bill unveiled Tuesday by Gov. Paul LePage is the second attempt in a year to allow land held for conservation to be taxed, and an official from a top conservation group said while it wouldn’t apply to a large share of land, it’s a “slap in the face of land trusts.” It’s […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine House OKs ‘right to try’ bill for dying patients
AUGUSTA — The Maine House is supporting a bill that would give dying patients the right to use experimental drugs. The Maine House on Tuesday gave initial approval to the so-called “right to try” bill. The vote was 114 to 28. The legislation would allow patients to use drugs that have passed the first phase […]