In a gridlocked Congress, there’s finally reason for a small celebration. Senate Republicans ended their obstruction of President Obama’s nominations to key federal posts when faced with the “nuclear option” of abolishing filibusters. Credit Harry Reid, the rarely decisive majority leader, with forcing Republicans’ hands. They had blocked nominees to the Department of Labor and […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Analysis: LePage raises taxes on wealthiest in budget he opposed for its tax increases
Learn About Tableau Gov. Paul LePage railed against the two-year state budget that took effect July 1 for a number of reasons. Chiefly, though, the Republican governor vehemently objected to the budget’s temporary sales, meals and lodging tax hikes. “I don’t know how you recover from a tax increase when you’re one of the worst […]
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Maine Republicans to choose new leaders Saturday
AUGUSTA — The Republican State Committee will gather in Augusta on Saturday to choose new leaders after the recent resignations of its chairman and vice chairman. At least three people are interested in the positions, including former Senate President Rick Bennett of Oxford, former Rep. Jonathan McKane of Newcastle and former Maine House candidate Sam […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
LePage says latest unemployment numbers show his policies are working
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage touted the fact that Maine’s unemployment rate in June remained at 6.8 percent, which is the lowest since the recession struck in November 2008, as an indication that his fiscal policies are boosting Maine’s private sector. LePage said new data show the unemployment rate stood at 6.8 percent in […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. Senate reaches deal on student loan rates
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan compromise on student loans promises better deals for students and parents over the next few years but could spell higher rates if it gets more expensive for the government to borrow money as expected. The Senate deal shifts decisions on interest rates from the whims of Congress to the financial markets […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine asks railroads how they keep parked trains stationary
AUGUSTA — State officials seeking to prevent another runaway train like that which devastated a Quebec town have queried five state rail haulers to see how they keep parked trains stationary, Gov. Paul LePage announced Wednesday. Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt sent the letter as a first step toward having Maine railroad companies […]
Posted inMaine
King says student loan compromise reached
A deal that freezes interest rates for all student loans issued after July 1, 2013, was reached Thursday by a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine. The measure, backed by King and seven other senators, will go to a vote before the full Senate sometime next week, said Scott Ogden, King’s […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gay marriage opponents praise LePage for Vaseline comment
LePage’s administration quickly distanced him from Michael Heath, best known as the former executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, and Paul Madore, director of the Maine Grassroots Coalition. The two said at a news conference at the State House on Wednesday that when LePage said Democratic Sen. Troy Jackson claimed “to be […]
Posted inMaine
Washington group ranks LePage No. 2 in list of worst governors
LEWISTON — Maine Gov. Paul LePage was ranked among the 18 worst governors in the United States on Wednesday by a Washington, D.C.-based government watchdog group. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington listed LePage, a Republican, as having the second-worst record based on criteria that included corruption, transparency, partisan politics, pressuring public officials, cronyism, […]
Posted inMaine
Newfound wealth allows Pingree to pay her ‘dues’ to House Democrats
From 1994 to mid-2011, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree’s total contributions to candidates running for national office were $2,950. But from June 2011 to last November — a period of 17 months — the Democratic congresswoman from Maine’s 1st District donated $105,600 to Democratic candidates to Congress and to the party committees that funnel donations to […]