Calling it “a devastating blow,” the head of the Natural Resources Council of Maine denounced President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of an international climate agreement Thursday. Lisa Pohlmann, the environmental group’s executive director, said the move “could jeopardize global efforts to avert the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.” Maine’s congressional delegation had […]
chellie pingree
Posted inLocal & State
Trump plan to end state and local tax deductions likely to prove difficult
As Republicans try to figure out a way to deliver on tax cuts President Donald Trump promised, they’re taking a hard look at the possibility of eliminating the income tax deduction for state and local taxes. Though Congress is unlikely to go along, it’s a move that would sock many Maine taxpayers who file federal […]
advertisement
Posted inLocal & State
Lawmakers hope to ease the sale of locally produced meat
AUGUSTA — Among animals that Maureen Barnard raises on her Old Moses Farm in Knox County are rabbits whose meat she’s sold to high-end restaurants and grocery stores in the midcoast area for the past five years. Barnard told lawmakers recently that because the law requires her to use a regulated slaughterhouse, she needs to […]
Posted inLocal & State
After CBO report, Susan Collins sees new hope for her health care bill
The health care bill pushed through recently by the U.S. House suffered a potentially crippling blow Wednesday when the Congressional Budget Office declared it would cause 23 million Americans to lose insurance coverage during the next decade. It said in particular the plan would become too costly for many people, particularly older, sicker Americans who […]
Posted inLocal & State
Trump’s budget gets mixed review from Maine lawmakers
President Donald Trump’s $4.1 trillion spending plan, which would slash everything from student loans to food stamps while sharply increasing money for the military, got mixed reviews from Maine’s congressional delegation Tuesday. The one thing they all agreed on in their prepared statements is that Trump’s 62-page budget proposal, which contained far less detail than […]
Posted inLocal & State
Maine lawmakers hail selection of Mueller as special counsel
Maine’s congressional delegation offered solid support for the decision by the U.S. Justice Department to appoint former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to lead the highly charged investigation into ties between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russian officials. Calling the pick “an excellent choice,” U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said Mueller “has sterling credentials […]
Posted inLocal & State
Angus King says the president’s impeachment is possible
Following a report that President Donald Trump told the FBI director to end its investigation into Russian ties to the Republican presidential campaign, U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said late Tuesday that impeachment is possible. During a television interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Maine’s independent junior senator was asked if Trump is getting close to […]
Posted inLocal & State
Sharing secrets with Russia ‘very troubling,’ Maine senators say
National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster speaks to members of the media outside the West Wing of the White House on Monday, May 15, 2017, in Washington. More Coverage Donald Trump defends sharing terrorism ‘facts’ with Russians Donald Trump revealed highly classified info to Russian diplomats The possibility that President Donald Trump disclosed highly classified information […]
Posted inLocal & State
A special counsel needed for Trump investigation, says Angus King
The surprise firing of FBI Director James Comey Tuesday caused Maine lawmakers to split along partisan lines in statement each released in response. In the biggest development, U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent, said President Donald Trump’s decision called for “a special counsel to carry forward the investigation” into possible ties between Russia and […]
Posted inLocal & State
Maine may offer path forward for GOP health care plan
As Republicans scramble to try to come up with a successor to the Affordable Care Act, or at least an alternative that can win over a majority of the GOP-controlled House, many are looking to Maine for a possible model. In recent days, they’ve been talking about the high-risk pool established in Maine to provide […]