While Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King voted for the spending measure to avoid a shutdown, it eliminates millions of dollars of so-called earmarks for projects in Maine and nationwide.
Politics
Political news and information from the Sun Journal.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Maine Democrats move to adopt partial budget, with or without Republicans
Democrats have brought forward a ‘continuing services’ budget to fund MaineCare and other core government functions; it advanced out of committee Friday and will go to the full Legislature.
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Posted inNation / World, Politics
King and Collins vote to fund government as Senate averts shutdown
In the end, enough Democratic senators decided a shutdown would be worse than the Republican plan and backed Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer’s strategy to allow the bill to advance.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Maine Senate kills budget deal as parties fail to break deadlock
The compromise deal rejected Thursday would have restored full MaineCare funding to hospitals and other medical providers. Lawmakers will now have to negotiate a new bill.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics, Schools & Education
Maine, other states file lawsuit after mass Education Department layoffs
More than a dozen states filed a federal lawsuit alleging cuts to the U.S. Department of Education’s workforce, including all of the staff at a regional office in Boston, will harm students from public K-12 schools to higher education.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Judge denies AG’s request to reinstate Maine’s 72-hour law on gun purchases pending appeal
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker denied the attorney general’s call to restore the waiting period for gun purchases while waiting for a federal appeals court to take up the case.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Senate Republicans call for MaineCare reforms after blocking budget deal
Senate President Mattie Daughtry, a Democrat, accused Republicans of ‘moving the goalpost’ with their call for reforms and said lawmakers are out of time to get a budget passed.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Key position at Maine VA hospital is spared, but agency still plans massive cuts
A radiation safety officer position once slated for elimination is not part of the latest round of cuts, the VA confirmed.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State, Politics
All 6 of Maine’s federal judges recuse themselves from Rep. Laurel Libby’s lawsuit against House speaker
The Republican state lawmaker’s case will now be considered by a federal judge from Rhode Island.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation / World, Politics
Rep. Golden is only Democrat to vote with Republicans as House passes temporary funding bill
The 2nd District congressman broke with the rest of his party’s members, many of whom said they were worried about the discretion that the bill gives the Trump administration on spending decisions.