AUGUSTA — The cost of energy in Maine, its production and transmission, as well as whether the mix of renewable sources is balanced, will continue to be debated at the State House in 2014. Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee have spent their past few meetings honing up as they prepare to […]
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Posted inMaine
State lawmakers push for consequences if MaineCare ride program is not fixed
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers Wednesday said they want a “Plan B” for a $40 million non-emergency ride program that’s foundered since it was transferred to the hands of third-party brokers in August. “I know in my community there are still very, very significant problems,” state Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, said Wednesday. Rotundo is House chairwoman […]
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Defense spending foes rally against new tax break for Bath Iron Works
Led by veteran peace activists, a Bath-based group has formed to defeat a new property tax break proposed by the company to allow it to expand the shipyard and — according to BIW officials and a defense industry analyst — remain competitive for U.S. Navy contracts with Huntington Ingalls Shipyard in Mississippi. In August, Bath […]
Posted inMaine
Sheriff seeking Maine Senate seat
SABATTUS — Androscoggin County Sheriff Guy Desjardins announced Tuesday that he is running for the state Senate in the November 2014 election. The seat is now held by Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon Falls, for District 17. Legislative redistricting approved this year means the district will be renumbered to 22 for the 2014 election. It will include […]
Posted inMaine
Bill for Maine homeless veterans and others could still move forward
AUGUSTA — Citing “inside baseball” and political gamesmanship, state Rep. Corey Wilson, R-Augusta, said he would appeal the rejection of a bill that paves the way to create a shelter for some of the state’s homeless veterans. Wilson’s bill was rejected by the Legislative Council, a committee of Democratic and Republican leaders, earlier this month. […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Obama names former UMS chancellor to be next ambassador to Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON — Former University of Maine System Chancellor Joseph W. Westphal was nominated Wednesday by President Barack Obama to be the next U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Westphal was among five nominees announced Wednesday in a White House statement. “I am grateful these accomplished individuals have agreed to join this Administration, and I’m confident they […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Payrolls increased by 204,000 jobs
WASHINGTON — American employers added more workers to payrolls in October than forecast by economists, betting that the world’s largest economy would weather the impact of the federal government shutdown. The addition of 204,000 workers followed a revised 163,000 gain in September that was larger than initially estimated, Labor Department figures showed Friday in Washington. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Cohen says Americans need to demand that elected officials work together
ORONO — Former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen on Thursday urged Americans to take control of their government and demand that elected officials work together to make the hard choices it will take to lower the deficit and cut the growth of the federal budget. Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, who was the featured […]
Posted inBusiness, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine
Werts to appeal rejection of MDOT notice bill
AUGUSTA — State Rep. Wayne Werts, D-Auburn, is appealing the rejection of a bill that directs the Maine Department of Transportation to contact local businesses near a planned construction project to help limit any negative impact on them. Werts said the bill helps prevent unnecessary hardships on businesses near MDOT construction projects. The bill was […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. Senate OKs gay rights bill banning discrimination
WASHINGTON — The Senate approved legislation outlawing workplace discrimination against gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, demonstrating the nation’s quickly evolving attitude toward gay rights nearly two decades after Congress rejected same-sex marriage. Fifty-four members of the Democratic majority and 10 Republicans voted Thursday for the first major gay rights bill since Congress repealed the ban […]