AUGUSTA — State employees whose positions are all or partially funded with federal government money have received layoff notices effective Sept. 30, but a spokesman for the state’s finance department said Thursday that the layoffs will be rescinded if Congress can reach a budget deal. Alex Willette, spokesman for the Maine Department of Administrative and […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine government functions even without Paul LePage’s nominations
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s recent move to further delay a round of nominations to Maine boards and commissions has drawn attention to the appointment process — normally one of a governor’s least controversial responsibilities. But it’s important: Maine’s governor has the authority to appoint more than 2,000 people to sit on more than 300 […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston mayor wants public listing of welfare recipients
LEWISTON — Mayor Robert Macdonald, who is seeking re-election to a third term, said he intends to submit a bill to the Legislature to require the creation of a website listing names of people on welfare, their addresses, length of time on welfare and types of benefits received. All of that information is shielded from […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine GOP starts citizen initiative on tax and welfare reform
AUGUSTA — Maine Republican Party Chairman Rick Bennett said Wednesday that the party intends to send major tax and welfare reforms it hopes to enact through citizen initiative in 2016 to voters as a single ballot question. Though Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, a Democrat, has final say regarding how the question will be worded, […]
Posted inMaine
Maine’s Congressional delegation says ‘no’ to government shutdown
As federal lawmakers wrestle with the latest specter of a government shutdown, Maine’s Congressional delegation appears to be mostly unified in their stance against closing the government’s doors — again. A 17-day federal government shutdown in 2013 resulted in millions of dollars lost to Maine’s economy and billions being lost to the national economy. The […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Sun Journal to host Lewiston mayoral debate Oct. 5
LEWISTON — The field of five mayoral candidates will square off Monday, Oct. 5, at a live public forum hosted by the Sun Journal and the Lewiston Public Library. The candidates are Mayor Robert Macdonald and challengers Luke Jensen, Ben Chin, Stephen Morgan and Charles Soule. The forum is the first of two opportunities for […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Roy announces Lewiston Council bid
LEWISTON — Lewiston native Marc R. Roy announced his bid for the City Council seat in Ward 2. Ward and opponent Tim Lajoie both seek to fill the seat left by Councilor Don D’Auteuil. D’Auteuil announced earlier this year that he would not seek a second term. Roy, a 1994 Lewiston High School graduate, has […]
Posted inMaine
Kiplinger knocks Maine as among ‘least tax friendly’ despite tax burden report
AUGUSTA — A day after Maine Republicans were touting a decrease in the overall tax burden for most Mainers based on a report by the nonpartisan Truth in Accounting think tank, another report shows the state is still among the worst for overall tax burden. On Tuesday, the iconic American financial newsletter Kiplinger released an […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage says nominations on hold during ‘cooldown period’
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage came under attack Tuesday for his decision to delay nominations to boards and commissions until January instead of allowing the Senate to take them up this fall. Senate Democratic leader Justin Alfond said the governor needs to do his job and quit playing games after Maine Public Broadcasting Network reported […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Sen. Susan Collins votes against GOP ban on late-term abortions
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats blocked Republican legislation Tuesday that would prohibit most late-term abortions, the second time since this summer’s release of videos involving Planned Parenthood that they’ve derailed an abortion-related drive by the GOP. Senators voted 54-42 to move ahead on the legislation, but that fell six short of the 60 votes needed to […]