AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage says that eliminating the tax on military pensions is vital to attract veterans to Maine. LePage joined dozens of veterans at the Statehouse on Tuesday to highlight the need to exempt military pensions from the state income tax, which would benefit about 8,000 Maine veterans. He says that 22 […]
politics
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Ben Carson announces presidential exploratory committee
WASHINGTON — Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has created an exploratory committee to run for president, becoming the first high-profile Republican candidate to formally enter the 2016 presidential contest. Carson, the only African-American expected to enter the race, rose to national prominence after criticizing President Barack Obama’s health care law at the 2013 National Prayer breakfast. […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Video Coverage: Netanyahu blasts U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Congressional speech
WASHINGTON — In a speech that stirred political controversy in two countries, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Congress on Tuesday that negotiations underway between Iran and the United States would “all but guarantee” that Tehran gets nuclear weapons to the detriment of the entire world. “And lots of them,” he added in an appearance […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
UMaine System chancellor pitches LePage budget to lawmakers
AUGUSTA — The chancellor of the University of Maine System is calling on lawmakers to support increased funding for its schools in Gov. Paul LePage’s budget. Chancellor James Page addressed a joint session of the Legislature on Tuesday. He says that LePage is proposing the biggest new investment that the system has seen in years. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine regulators to decide on new smelt rules today
PORTLAND — The future of Maine smelt fishing is up for a key vote that could restrict the harvesting of the wriggling fish. A Maine advisory committee was set to decide Tuesday if the state will enact new regulations to protect the declining populations of the fish. Smelts are popular in Maine among winter ice […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Emily Cain ready to run again for Maine’s 2nd Congression seat
has announced she will run again for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016. It’s the same seat she lost as a Democrat to Republican Bruce Poliquin in 2014. Poliquin received about 47 percent of the vote in November, compared to 42 percent for Cain. The two were running for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat. […]
Posted inMaine
Maine legislators consider repeal of law prohibiting switchblades
AUGUSTA — State lawmakers are considering a bill that would repeal the prohibition on so-called “switchblade” and “Stiletto” knives. Supporters of the change said many knives, which were never intended to be prohibited by the decades-old law, are increasingly being targeted by law enforcement. On Monday, state Rep. Joel Stetkis, R-Canaan, was carrying a lockbox […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Debate heats up over proposed cuts to Fund for Healthy Maine
AUGUSTA — Advocates and health care providers said Monday that Gov. Paul LePage’s plan to divert money from a fund that supports community anti-smoking programs in order to maintain Medicaid reimbursements for primary care physicians is the wrong approach. The Republican’s proposed budget would cut $10 million a year from the Fund for Healthy Maine, […]
Posted inLetters
W. Sullivan: I shall run for president
I preface this letter by stating that I am actually a tea party Republican; however, I have decided I want to run for president of the United States. Having said that, I realize I must take advantage of the left-wing media bias and its double standards and that if I stand any chance of achieving […]
Posted inMaine
Lawmakers seek reform for Maine’s Clean Election law
AUGUSTA — A stack of bills aimed at cleaning up Maine’s Clean Election finance law holds the potential to rankle political leaders on both sides of the aisle. State Rep. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, said he knows leadership is displeased with his efforts to stop candidates who are seeking state office from also running political action […]