AUGUSTA — Pressure is growing on the panel tasked with finding $40 million of savings in the budget in order to avert further reductions in revenue sharing that some have said would decimate municipalities around the state. From a distance, it might look easy. There are billions of state revenue dollars lost to tax expenditures […]
politics
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Groups tell state panel that interest remains high for ACA
AUGUSTA — Interest in the federal health care exchange has been high in Maine since enrollment opened on Oct. 1, yet glitches in the website continue to be a problem for consumers, health groups and insurance companies said on Monday. Emily Brostek, who oversees the statewide help line for the Augusta-based Consumers for Affordable Health Care […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Obama says there’s ‘No excuse’ for health care signup problems
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday said there was “no excuse” for the cascade of computer problems that have marred the rollout of a key element in his health care law, but declared he was confident the administration would be able to fix the issues. “There’s no sugarcoating it,” Obama said. “Nobody is more […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
King’s staff to meet with Lewiston, Auburn residents
U.S. Sen. Angus King’s office has announced that staff members will meet with constituents in Lewiston and Auburn this week. Constituent outreach hours allow area residents to meet with a staff representative to discuss specific problems, legislative issues or any concerns regarding federal government agencies. The meetings will take place from 10 a.m. to noon […]
Posted inLetters
R. Lacombe: Elephants, donkeys at war
It is discouraging that the war in Afghanistan is ongoing and U.S. troops are still getting killed. They are fighting against forces that lack refinement, are merciless and trained to kill. Remember what happened to Russian forces — they were badly beaten. Moreover, it has cost America billions of dollars to support that war, putting […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Pot legalization effort moves eastward to Maine
PORTLAND — Advocates of recreational marijuana use are looking to an upcoming vote in Maine as an indicator of whether the East Coast is ready to follow in the footsteps of Colorado and Washington by legalizing cannabis. Voters in Portland are being asked whether they want to make it legal for adults 21 and over […]
Posted inBusiness
Argo Marketing owner upset by Gilbert’s comments
LEWISTON — Call center owner Jason Levesque said he’s not comfortable being a point in the election debate between the city’s next would-be mayors. “I don’t care about the election,” Levesque said Friday. “I care about being able to recruit people. If I’m trying to recruit new employees and they tell their mom, dad or […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage lifts Maine’s civil emergency
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage announced Friday afternoon that the statewide civil emergency he called in response to the federal government shutdown is over. LePage declared a civil emergency by proclamation on Oct. 9, eight days after the federal government shutdown began Oct. 1. He said at the time that it was a precautionary measure […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
State workers union objects to how LePage handled federal shutdown
AUGUSTA, Maine — The director of Maine’s largest public sector union said Friday that Gov. Paul LePage tried to squeeze contract concessions out of state workers during negotiations to return laid-off employees to their jobs after the partial U.S. government shutdown ended on Wednesday. Chris Quint, executive director of the Maine State Employees Association, said […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Former Speaker of the House Tom Foley dies
WASHINGTON — Former House Speaker Tom Foley has died at the age of 84 in his home. Foley’s wife, Heather, said the Washington state Democrat died at his home in the nation’s capital. Foley became the first speaker since the Civil War to fail to win re-election in his home district. The courtly politician lost […]