Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks with reporters before heading into a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Republicans are adding money to their staggering effort to repeal the Obama health care law and say they’re pushing toward a climactic Senate faceoff this week. […]
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Republicans unveil long-shot effort on health care
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, to unveil legislation to reform health care. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators on Wednesday rolled out competing plans for the nation’s health care system, with a group of GOP senators making a last, long-shot effort […]
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Senate GOP struggles with deficit in work on budget, taxes
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin arrives at the Capitol for a closed-door meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, as they struggle to get a tax code overhaul, in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. The as-yet-undrafted bill to overhaul the tax code is the top priority for Trump and Republicans after the collapse of their […]
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Congress to vote on Donald Trump's $7.9B Harvey relief bill
In this Sept. 5, 2017, photo, a worker walks past a pile of debris outside a business damaged by floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Spring, Texas. With federal disaster reserves running out, the House is swiftly moving to pass President Donald Trump’s request for a $7.9 billion first installment of relief for […]
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White House preparing $5.9B request for Harvey recovery aid
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has prepared a request to Congress for an initial $5.9 billion package in Harvey recovery aid, a first down payment to make sure recovery efforts over the next few weeks are adequately funded. The Trump proposal, which is being finalized pending White House consultations with key Republicans, promises to […]
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As Jared Golden enters congressional race, GOP bashes him
LEWISTON — On a sunny morning at the corner of Kennedy Park on Thursday, state Rep. Jared Golden formally declared his intention to run for Congress in a short speech and then hopped into the shotgun seat of a green GMC Sierra pickup truck to head north to faraway Eagle Lake. Golden, 35, said he […]
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Maine delegation calls for dairy farmer relief from USDA
PORTLAND (AP) — Maine’s congressional delegation is calling for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make emergency changes to help dairy farmers who are struggling with low prices. Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree says farm milk prices have dropped nearly 40 percent in recent years, leaving New England dairy farmers in trouble. She and the rest […]
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Political pioneer Margaret Chase Smith
Years before Margaret Chase Smith succeeded in getting elected as Maine’s first woman senator, she was a particularly savvy congressman’s wife. Her husband, Clyde Smith, represented the 2nd District and relied on her as his top office aide and campaign manager. “My role was to be at Clyde’s side as his right-hand man,” she wrote […]
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Congress goes on vacation leaving much undone, tensions with Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers have scattered for their summer recess, leaving behind a slim record of achievements and a steaming President Donald Trump. The president is angry about what the Republican-led Congress couldn’t do — repeal Obamacare — as well as one of the few things it did: approve a Russia sanctions bill he detests. […]
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Pentagon, border wall covered in $788B House spending bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a $788 billion spending bill that combines a $1.6 billion down payment for President Donald Trump’s controversial border wall with Mexico with a whopping budget increase for the Pentagon. The 235-192 vote both eases a large backlog of unfinished spending bills and gives Trump and his House GOP […]