Lawmakers reached an agreement late Sunday on a broad spending package to fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year in September, ending weeks of uncertainty. The House and Senate are expected to vote on the package early this week. The bipartisan agreement includes $12.5 billion in new military spending and $1.5 […]
u.s. senate
Posted inNation / World
Bill to fund government 1 more week on Donald Trump’s desk
WASHINGTON (AP) — Coverage of efforts in Congress to repeal the health care law and agree on a spending bill to keep the government open (all times local): Updated 12:01 p.m.: Congress has sent President Donald Trump a short-term spending bill preventing a partial government shutdown on Saturday, his 100th day in office. But lawmakers […]
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Posted inMaine
Angus King seeks Senate action to speed up VA claims that take years now
William J. Rogers Post 153 member, Peter Rogers, of Yarmouth, talks with Senator Angus King in Auburn Tuesday afternoon at the American Legion Post before King spoke to a group of veterans about his efforts and those needed by veterans to help the Passage of a bill to overhaul broken VA appeals process. The Auburn […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Bad precedent and the nuclear option
WASHINGTON — For euphemism, dissimulation and outright hypocrisy, there is nothing quite as entertaining as the periodic Senate dust-ups over Supreme Court appointments and the filibuster. The arguments for and against the filibuster are so well-known to both parties as to be practically memorized. Both nonetheless argue their case with great shows of passion and […]
Posted inNation / World
Neil Gorsuch heads for confirmation with Senate vote today
Process for confirming Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, is headed for confirmation after Republicans tore up the Senate’s voting rules to allow him to ascend to the high court over furious Democratic objections. Democrats denounced the GOP’s use of what both sides dubbed the “nuclear […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Republicans have the power, they should use it
What goes around comes around is one of life’s undeniable truisms and never more than in the politics of Washington, D.C. (the “D.C.” increasingly standing for dysfunctional city). Last week was Cherry Blossom week in D.C. This week it’s Neil Gorsuch week. Republicans must now decide whether to use the “nuclear option,” a parliamentary procedure […]
Posted inNation / World
Sen. Jeff Merkley pulls all-nighter to oppose Neil Gorsuch nomination
WASHINGTON — A Democratic senator held the Senate floor through the night and was still going Wednesday in an attention-grabbing talk-a-thon highlighting his party’s opposition to President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell claimed the votes necessary to change Senate rules and thwart the Democratic filibuster in a […]
Posted inMaine
Eric Brakey accepts he is underdog in bid to unseat Angus King
Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, intends to run against Sen. Angus King in the 2018 U.S. Senate race. PORTLAND — A young Auburn legislator who began his political career on the libertarian fringe of Republican politics announced an underdog 2018 run against independent U.S. Sen. Angus King in a video given to the Bangor Daily News […]
Posted inNation / World
Analysis: Angus King tries to play both sides of aisle
AUGUSTA — Angus King was a lifelong Democrat best known as a television host before he unenrolled from his party and went on to win what looked at the start like an improbable run for Maine governor. “The Democratic Party as an institution has become too much the party that is looking for something from […]
Posted inMaine
Eric Brakey inches closer to taking on Sen. Angus King in 2018
State Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, is considering challenging U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, in 2018. State Sen. Eric Brakey has taken the first formal step toward a possible campaign to try to unseat U.S. Sen. Angus King in 2018. Brakey said Wednesday he has formed an exploratory committee that will allow him to raise enough […]