WASHINGTON — Republicans rallied behind Rep. Paul Ryan to elect him the House’s 54th speaker on Thursday as a splintered GOP turned to the youthful but battle-tested lawmaker to mend its self-inflicted wounds and craft a conservative message to woo voters in next year’s elections. In a slow-moving roll call that mixed politics with pageantry, […]
politics
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lisbon to vote for fourth time on school budget
LISBON — A school budget for fiscal year 2015-16 will go before voters for the fourth time on Nov. 3 — this time for $15.01 million. Voters rejected similar budgets in June, August and September, saying they were too low. Town councilors, School Committee members and townspeople are hoping that the November election will put […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Ben Chin opposes Lewiston pay-per-bag trash program
LEWISTON — Mayoral candidate Ben Chin said Wednesday he is against a city plan to charge a price per bag for curbside trash collection, based on feedback he’s gotten from residents. “I’m opposed to changing public goods into fee-for-service systems,” Chin said at news conference in front of Lewiston City Hall. “I don’t believe we […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
GOP nominates Rep. Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House
WASHINGTON — House Republicans nominated Rep. Paul Ryan on Wednesday to become the chamber’s next speaker, rallying behind a youthful overachiever they hope will guide them out of weeks of internal feuding and disarray and point the party toward accomplishments they can highlight in next year’s elections. Ryan, R-Wis., was his party’s 2012 vice presidential […]
Posted inMaine
Sen. Angus King, Rep. Beto O’Rourke push federal campaign finance reform
Maine’s independent U.S. Sen. Angus King is joining forces with a Democratic congressman from Texas to push for faster disclosure on federal campaign donations. King and U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke announced Wednesday they are reintroducing the Real Time Transparency Act, a bill that has so far failed to gain traction in Congress. The legislation requires […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Former House Speaker Hastert pleads guilty to lying to FBI
CHICAGO — Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty Wednesday to lying to the FBI in a hush-money scheme, agreeing to a deal with federal prosecutors that recommends he serve no more than six months in prison and averting a trial in the case. A judge, however, could go beyond that recommendation and give the former House speaker […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine GOP leaders split over Paul LePage’s beef with Roger Katz
PORTLAND (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage’s request for a Republican to recuse himself from an investigation into whether the governor overstepped his authority underscores an ongoing rift that threatens GOP unity only a few months out from the next legislative session. Republican Senate President Michael Thibodeau is standing behind Government Oversight Committee co-chairman Roger […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine lawmakers tour Canadian hydropower facilities
PORTLAND — The leader of a bipartisan group of Maine lawmakers who traveled to Canada to learn about hydroelectric power production believes it could fill some of New England’s energy needs. House Republican leader Ken Fredette, chairman of the Maine Canadian Legislative Advisory Commission, was joined by four other members last week in Labrador, where […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Congressional leaders, Obama reach 2-year budget deal
WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders are throwing their collective weight behind a hard-won, two-year bipartisan budget plan aimed at heading off a looming government debt crisis and forestalling a government shutdown in December. The pact, which would take these volatile issues off the table until after the 2016 presidential election, emerged in behind-the-scenes negotiations late Monday […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Federal grant to put $20 million toward Maine rails
PORTLAND — A rail project that’s repairing and overhauling rail, ties, crossings and signal systems is getting a $20 million boost from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Sen. Susan Collins says the grant will “help to rebuild and upgrade our state’s railway system, create jobs in Maine, and provide increased public safety for our communities.” […]