AUGUSTA – Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., got a lift in Maine on Tuesday with endorsements from Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, party godfather and lobbyist Severin Beliveau and a host of legislators. The progressive senator is an underdog in his race against former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — who received […]
politics
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Federal government expects deficit to rise to $544 billion this year
Data curated by InsideGov WASHINGTON — A government report released Tuesday estimates that this year’s budget deficit will rise to $544 billion, an increase over prior estimates that can be attributed largely to tax cuts and spending increases passed by Congress last month. The estimate from the Congressional Budget Office also sees the economy growing […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Auburn to hear customer feedback on sewer rate increase tonight
AUBURN — The Auburn Sewerage District will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to present information on a proposed sewer rate increase and to hear customer concerns and answer questions. The hearing will be at the Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St. According to a letter sent to customers on Jan. 4, Superintendent […]
Posted inMaine
Maine clerks busy verifying referendum petition signatures
PORTLAND — Maine’s town clerks are keeping busy verifying signatures for petitions aimed at getting referendum proposals onto the November ballot. And soon state election officials will kick into high gear, as well, to validate the petitions. The campaigns have until Friday to get signatures delivered to local clerks. Then the petitions must be delivered […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Almost 80,000 Mainers use HealthCare.gov to get coverage
PORTLAND — Nearly 80,000 Maine residents have signed up for health care coverage through the HealthCare.gov platform since open enrollment began in November. Officials with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services say 78,891 people from Maine have either signed up or had their coverage automatically renewed as of Jan. 9. The deadline to […]
Posted inBusiness
State Sen. Mike Thibodeau looks to cap Maine electric rates
AUGUSTA — An effort to cap electric rates in Maine at 10 cents a kilowatt hour or less will be voted on by the Legislature’s Energy Committee on Tuesday. But the bill, LD 1339, authored by Senate President Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, also calls for the suspension of the state’s renewable energy portfolio requirements if suppliers […]
Posted inMaine
Florida woman bankrolls push for York County casino question in Maine
LEWISTON — A Lewiston political operative is again at the center of a campaign that’s seeking to bring another casino to Maine, this time to York County. The campaign has spent $156,000 since it began in October, according to the most recent campaign finance reports available from the state. Much of that money — $111,935 — […]
Posted inMaine
Effort to impeach Gov. Paul LePage fails in Maine House
AUGUSTA — After a nearly three-hour debate Thursday, the House of Representatives voted 96-52 to kill an effort to bring an investigation that might have led to an impeachment trial in the state Senate for firebrand Republican Gov. Paul LePage. The successful vote on the motion to indefinitely postpone taking action on the issue largely removes […]
Posted inMaine
Defense attorneys oppose Paul LePage’s plan for contract system
AUGUSTA — Attorneys who represent indigent defendants and the commission created five years ago to oversee their training and payment will oppose Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed changes to the system at a hearing Thursday before the Judiciary Committee. LePage has proposed creating a system in which law firms or groups of attorneys would contract with […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Horseracing Jobs Fairness collecting signatures for casino
David McKenzie, right, 40, of Bangor signs a petition for a 2016 referendum question to allow a casino in York County on Wednesday outside the garage at Pickering Square in Bangor. “I think it’s a good idea,” he said. “It brings in money. And — I don’t know how else to say this — I […]