The Senate’s 51-50 vote to start debating the package, with Vice President Kamala Harris pushing Democrats over the top, underscores how they are navigating the package through Congress with virtually no margin for error.
Politics
Political news and information from the Sun Journal.
Posted inBusiness, Nation / World, Politics
White House says relief checks will go to most people who got $600 payments
A White House official says 98% of U.S. households that received COVID-19 relief checks in December will also qualify for the next round of payments.
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Posted inNation / World, News, Politics
Democrats tighten relief benefits, firm up support for pandemic relief bill
Under Wednesday’s agreement, the Senate bill would halt stimulus checks completely for individuals making $80,000 or more and couples earning $160,000.
Posted inNation / World, News, Politics
House passes sweeping voting rights bill over Republican opposition
The bill would require states to automatically register eligible voters and offer same-day registration, but it faces big obstacles in the Senate.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News, Politics
Legislative panel votes to keep Maine’s ban on plastic shopping bags
Enforcement of the law has been temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted inNation / World, Politics, Sports
Lawmakers want to ban trans girls in sports without citing local examples
Legislators in more than 20 states have introduced bills this year that would ban transgender girls from competing on girls’ sports teams in public high schools
Posted inNation / World, Politics
House cancels session because of ‘possible plot’ to breach Capitol
The threat appears to be connected to a far-right conspiracy theory, mainly promoted by supporters of QAnon, that Trump will rise again to power on March 4.
Posted inBusiness, Nation / World, Politics
Fewer Americans are earning less than $15 an hour; Black and Hispanic women make up a bigger share of them
Before the novel coronavirus sent millions of low earners into unemployment, 1 in 3 workers earned less than $15 an hour.
Posted inNation / World, News, Politics
Sen. Collins to back Haaland for Interior secretary, sealing her approval
The announcement makes Haaland’s confirmation by the Senate nearly certain and follows Haaland’s endorsement last week by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.
Posted inNation / World, Politics
Biden urges Senate Democrats to rally behind $1.9 trillion virus relief bill
The legislation would provide $1,400 payments to individuals plus hundreds of billions of dollars for schools and colleges, COVID-19 vaccines and testing, mass transit systems, renters and small businesses.