WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two members of Maine’s four-person delegation to the U.S. Congress will take part in an event Thursday aimed at ending partisan gridlock in the nation’s Capitol. U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, and U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, are among 70 federal lawmakers who will attend the No Labels event as members of […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. Senate reaches a compromise on Obama nominations
WASHINGTON — The Senate stepped away from the brink of a meltdown on Tuesday, clearing the way for confirmation of one of President Barack Obama’s nominees long blocked by Republicans, nearing a deal to fill several other vacancies and finessing a Democratic threat to overturn historic rules that protect minority-party rights. “Nobody wants to come […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Collins says no thanks to Homeland Security possibility
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told reporters Tuesday that she’s not interested in leading the Department of Homeland Security, according to the Washington Post blog Post Politics. “The White House has not contacted me, I do not expect to be contacted by the White House and I am very happy being senator from […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage fundraising slows as Cutler, Michaud trumpet energy ‘to change the leadership in Augusta’
AUGUSTA — Two candidates preparing to face off against incumbent Republican Paul LePage in the 2014 governor’s race raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in the first half of 2013, while LePage saw his fundraising efforts slip. LePage raised $123,000 in the first half of 2013, bringing his total amount raised since 2011 to $339,000. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Portland voters to decide whether to legalize marijuana
PORTLAND — Proponents of legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in Maine’s largest city evoked the controversial George Zimmerman verdict during a Monday news conference in Portland and said laws against pot are used to unfairly target blacks. “Our justice system is failing us,” said Regina Phillips, an executive board member of the Maine NAACP, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Portland school officials say military recruiters are allowed
PORTLAND — Portland Public Schools officials are disputing a claim by Republican Gov. Paul LePage that the city’s high schools limit uniformed military recruiters’ access to students. Officials said Monday that the district’s four high schools allow uniformed military recruiters to speak with students. Portland High School Principal Deborah Migneault says in a statement that […]
Posted inMaine
Cutler, Michaud issue reports on campaign donors, expenses
PORTLAND — Maine independent gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler says he’s raised more than $430,000 so far for his 2014 campaign, while likely Democratic candidate Mike Michaud says he’s raised about $313,000. In a semiannual report filed Monday with the Maine Ethics Commission, Cutler reports he received contributions from 632 individuals during the first six months […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Maine may be open, but where’s the business?
Our avowedly pro-business governor, Paul LePage, has attracted plenty of attention while battling with Democrats who control the Legislature, and sometimes with fellow Republicans, too. But governors standing for re-election are judged at least as much for their handling of the economy as for any specific legislation. And on this account, LePage supporters might want […]
Posted inMaine
Is Collins on the list to lead Homeland Security?
While no serious short list of names has emerged in Washington to replace Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is being mentioned. Collins and independent Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman co-wrote the legislation that created the department a decade ago. Lieberman also is on a few short lists. Politico.com is quoting Rep. […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Michaud, Pingree call for federal review of rail safety
A week after an oil-tanker train exploded in the Quebec town of Lac-Megantic, leaving as many as 60 people presumed dead or missing, Maine U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud on Thursday called for a federal investigation into the safety of the infrastructure used to transport crude oil and gas by rail through Maine. […]