CONCORD, N.H. — Who would ever have imagined a Maine winter where snowmobilers have nothing to do but lament a lack of snow? It’s not just Maine, though. A warm winter is proving to be a double whammy for snowmobilers in all of northern New England. Not only are thousands of miles of trails closed […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Ken Mason says he doesn’t want to be Kennebec sheriff
AUGUSTA — The candidate who Gov. Paul LePage controversially nominated last week to serve as Kennebec County’s next sheriff over the objections of county Democrats pulled his name from consideration on Wednesday. The move from Chief Deputy Ken Mason of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office ends a potential legal fight between the Republican governor’s office […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Clean Elections head warns funds may run out
AUGUSTA — The state’s publicly funded campaign finance system that was backed by Maine voters could run dry after lawmakers repeatedly took money from it for other initiatives. The Portland Press Herald reports that Jonathan Wayne, executive director of Maine’s ethics commission, told the Legislature’s budget-writing committee Tuesday that lawmakers have taken nearly $12 million […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bill would give protection order option to human trafficking victims
AUGUSTA — A Maine senator says a proposed law would make it easier to issue protection from abuse orders for victims of human trafficking. Sen. Amy Volk, a Cumberland Republican, says protection orders in the state can be filed against family, household members or a dating partner. She says abusers do not always meet the […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Conservation Voters give King and Pingree top grades for 2015
AUGUSTA — The League of Conservation Voters on Wednesday released its annual scorecard for Congress, giving Maine’s U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent, and 1st District U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, perfect scores of 100. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, received a 60, while 2nd District Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, received a score of 9. […]
Posted inMaine
Peggy Rotundo says state should pay bills before adding to savings
AUGUSTA — Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, said Tuesday a state revenue surplus of about $73 million should be used first to help cover the state’s bills before being put into Maine’s savings account. Rotundo joined other Democrats in countering a bill being offered by Republican Gov. Paul LePage that seeks to put all of the […]
Posted inMaine
Wilton Republican wants to fight drug crisis with Medicaid expansion
The move to expand is backed by the state’s hospitals, as well as advocates for the poor and a large portion of Maine’s law-enforcement community. “Increasing access to MaineCare coverage means increasing access to mental health counseling, drug addiction treatment and counseling and preventive health care, providing measurable cost-savings and beneficial health outcomes across Maine,” Saviello […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Obama has plan to close Guantanamo Bay ‘once and for all’
Data curated by FindTheData WASHINGTON— President Barack Obama on Tuesday proposed to “once and for all” close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and transfer remaining detainees to a facility in the U.S., though his plan does not specify where. Obama said that despite significant political hurdles and congressional opposition he is making one […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Susan Collins now ready to talk about Supreme Court nominee
PORTLAND — Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins says President Barack Obama should name a successor to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and the Senate should vet the nominee. She had said previously that it was premature to discuss a successor before Scalia’s funeral, which happened over the weekend. Now, she’s making clear that Obama […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Clinton dynasty still lives while Bush’s fades
WASHINGTON — The Clinton political dynasty is still alive. The Bush dynasty has been routed. Their contrasting fates, to this point at least, tell us much about our two parties, the nature of this year’s presidential election, and the dueling legacies themselves. The Republican and Democratic contests are very different, beginning with the fact that […]