“My staff, too, had been furloughed,” she said at a press conference held at Husson University on Thursday, the day the 16-day government shutdown ended. “I started writing a plan that could move us forward. I marched down to the Senate Floor where I challenged my colleagues to work together. “Shortly after my speech, my phone […]
politics
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
King blames ‘the rise of the governmental Luddites’ for shutdown
PORTLAND — U.S. , I-Maine, fresh off being appointed to a special bipartisan committee charged with developing a long-term federal budget, told a Portland audience Thursday the panel will have to overcome polarizing party politics to avoid another round of brinksmanship in early 2014. As part of the legislation passed late Wednesday to temporarily reopen the federal […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn candidate says he has grown since murder-trial testimony
AUBURN — Levi Gervais said he was in a dark place two years ago — separated from his longtime girlfriend and his three children and caught up in a dangerous life of marijuana, prostitution and ultimately, murder. Gervais said his experience as the prosecution’s key witness in the 2011 murder of Christiana Fesmire gave him […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
MEMA director to step down next month
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage says the director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency is retiring in November. During his tenure, Robert McAleer presided over 12 major disasters including the St. Patrick’s Day and Patriots Day Storms in 2007, Tropical Storm Irene in 2010 and a blizzard earlier this year. McAleer was appointed MEMA director […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
King joins budget conference committee
WASHINGTON — The budget deal that ended the federal government shutdown and avoid default on the national debt also created a budget conference committee that now has Maine Sen. Angus King as a member. The budget conference committee is made up of U.S. Representatives and Senators from both parties and tasked with coming up with […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine’s civil emergency persists as federal government ends shutdown
AUGUSTA — Congress may have come to a deal to end the 16-day partial federal government shutdown and avoid a scenario that could have led to a national default, but the “civil emergency” declared last week by Gov. Paul LePage is still in effect. The governor’s emergency authority is “still being used as an administrative tool” in […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Public hearing being held on proposed mining rules
AUGUSTA — Maine’s environmental groups and residents are pushing back against proposed changes to the state’s mining regulations. The state’s Board of Environmental Protection is hearing public testimony on the suggested rules Thursday. The Natural Resources Council of Maine and others are urging the board to implement stricter limits on groundwater contamination and require mining companies […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Challenger calls Lewiston mayor divisive
LEWISTON — Mayoral candidate Larry Gilbert attacked Mayor Robert Macdonald again and again during a candidate forum Thursday, accusing him of denigrating the city around the state. “The mayor is supposed to be the ambassador of the city,” Gilbert said. “In other words, you speak well of your city. You don’t focus on the blemishes […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston candidate forum lights a few sparks
AUBURN — Sparks flew early between Lewiston’s mayoral candidates during a Twin Cities candidate forum Wednesday evening. Mayor Robert Macdonald and challenger Larry Gilbert sparred over Macdonald’s history as mayor in the event sponsored by the Young Professionals of the Lewiston-Auburn Area. Gilbert kicked it off, saying he would be inclusive, not divisive. “Let’s get […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Sen. Angus King criticizes U.S. House leadership
PORTLAND — A last-minute agreement by Senate leaders may avert a threatened Treasury default and reopen federal government but Sen. Angus King of Maine says Congress is doomed to repeat itself unless the House leadership ditches a rule limiting which proposals make it to the floor. House Speaker John Boehner has used the so-called Hastert […]