WASHINGTON — A Senate panel has voted to give President Barack Obama the authority to use military force against Syria in response to a deadly chemical weapons attack. The vote Wednesday was 10-7, with one senator voting present. The full Senate is expected to vote on the measure next week. The resolution would permit Obama […]
politics
Posted inMaine
LePage signs executive order to keep federal educational standards out of Maine schools
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage signed an executive order Wednesday that prevents Maine schools from adopting federally mandated educational standards. The executive order is designed to ensure that Maine schools maintain local control in light of concerns about new educational benchmarks in reading, writing and math. “Higher standards play an important role in that, but […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Collins criticizes how Obama is handling Syrian crisis
WATERVILLE — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, says President Barack Obama has put the country into a “no-win situation” by issuing an ultimatum to Syrian President Bashar Assad without fully considering the consequences. The Maine Republican said at an appearance in Waterville on Tuesday that she is pleased that Obama has sought congressional approval for […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine to boost lobster promotion budget
PORTLAND — California has its raisins, Florida its oranges and Vermont has maple syrup. Now, Maine’s lobster industry is trying to market its brand more broadly and increase sales of what’s already the state’s best-known seafood. A state law taking effect in October will raise the annual marketing budget for lobsters to more than $2.2 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Michaud campaign announces staff
PORTLAND — Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud is announcing the senior staff members of his campaign for governor. Michaud said Tuesday that Matt McTighe will serve as campaign manager in Michaud’s campaign against Republican Gov. Paul LePage and independent Eliot Cutler in the 2014 election. McTighe was the campaign manager for the successful 2012 same-sex […]
Posted inMaine
State sells bonds to pay off $183 million in MaineCare hospital debt
AUGUSTA — A bond was sold Tuesday to pay off $183.5 million in state debt for services provided by hospitals under MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid system, Gov. Paul LePage said. The payment will trigger more than $300 million in federal matching funds. “With the sale of the liquor revenue bond, Maine hospitals are now just […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
King plans to attend classified briefings on Syria
U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, was returning to Washington on Tuesday to attend a pair of classified briefings on the situation in Syria and the potential of a U.S. military strike against there. King was expected to attend a joint House-Senate classified briefing on Syria and a closed-door meeting of the Senate Intelligence Committee on […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Hearings set for new limits on Maine scallops
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine fishery officials are holding public hearings on proposed rules for the next scallop-fishing season. For most of the state from New Hampshire to the Canadian line, the Department of Marine Resources is proposing a 70-day season with a daily catch limit from Dec. 2 into late March. The department is also […]
Posted inMaine
Cutler, Michaud weigh in on governor’s record number of vetoes
AUGUSTA — If Eliot Cutler were governor today, the state’s Medicaid system would cover 70,000 more people. If Mike Michaud were governor, the state’s minimum wage would be going up. Bills aimed at passing those things into law vetoed by Maine’s Republican Gov. Paul LePage. LePage vetoed a record 82 bills, of which lawmakers could […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Sec. of State Kerry says Syria carefully planned a chemical attack
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. knows based on intelligence that the Syrian regime carefully prepared for days to launch a chemical weapons attack. Kerry says Syrian regime personnel were at the site of the attack for three days beforehand, making preparations. He says regime elements were told to prepare by […]