The Senate confirmed TV personality Mehmet Oz to lead the office that oversees health insurance programs for roughly half the country.
Politics
Political news and information from the Sun Journal.
Rep. Laurel Libby seeks immediate restoration of her voting rights in House
The censured Republican lawmaker from Auburn is asking a judge to let her vote on legislation while her lawsuit over the discipline proceeds.
Maine’s public defense agency to scale back billing oversight, training to focus on attorney recruitment
The new plan aims to help solve what a many have called a constitutional crisis. Next up: A judge will hold a hearing Monday to lay out her plans for releasing or dropping charges against people who have been waiting for a lawyer.
Jared Golden defends tariffs, breaking with Democrats, Maine delegation
In an interview with the Press Herald, Maine’s 2nd District congressman criticizes those who say prices will automatically increase under Trump’s tariffs — an argument U.S. Sen. Susan Collins put forward Wednesday.
New memo gives Maine schools 10 days to remove DEI programming or lose federal money
The letter from the US Department of Education was sent to every state’s K-12 education leaders asking them to sign a letter confirming compliance with a federal interpretation of Title VI and the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard ruling.
As tariffs set in, Mainers have about 2 months until car prices jump
President Donald Trump’s 25% tariff on imported vehicles and parts goes into effect Thursday. Dealers, mechanics and consumers could all take a hit.
Maine House speaker asks court to dismiss Rep. Laurel Libby’s lawsuit
The Auburn Republican sued Ryan Fecteau last month, arguing that he and House Democrats violated her constitutional rights by blocking her from voting or speaking on the floor.
Susan Collins rebuffs Trump, joins effort to block his tariffs on Canada
The Republican’s support for the Democratic effort came despite the president’s social media post calling on her to ‘get on the Republican bandwagon, for a change’ and ‘FINALLY adhere to Republican Values and Ideals.’
Social Security head called Gov. Mills a ‘petulant child’ in email ordering staff to cancel Maine contracts
Emails show Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek ignored his own staff’s warnings and briefly killed Maine contracts because he was upset that the governor publicly defied President Donald Trump.
Trump administration cuts entire federal heating assistance staff
About 20 people in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program office, which serves thousands of Maine households, were among the roughly 10,000 DHHS staffers laid off.