WASHINGTON — With the conflicts in Syria and Iraq becoming increasingly intertwined against the same Sunni extremist group, President Barack Obama moved on Thursday to ratchet up U.S. efforts to strengthen more moderate Syrian rebels. Obama’s request to Congress for $500 million in training and arms to the opposition in effect opens a second front […]
Congress
Posted inMaine
Maine AFL-CIO votes to back Democrats Bellows and Cain
AUGUSTA — One of the state’s largest labor organizations says it’s backing a pair of Maine Democrats running for federal office in 2014. On Saturday, the Maine AFL-CIO voted to endorse state Sen. Emily Cain of Orono in her bid for Maine’s 2nd District U.S. House seat in and Shenna Bellows of Manchester in her […]
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Posted inLetters
R. Polley: Time to do their job
I joined the Army in 1957, when I was 17 years old. I grew up in the Army. I served in Korea in 1958 and 1959. I am one of the millions of Americans who made a commitment to our country and now I ask that members of Congress uphold their commitment to America’s veterans. […]
Posted inMaine
North to Augusta: Primary spin cycles accelerate Maine’s campaign season
With the June primaries behind them, Maine’s major political parties — Democrats and Republicans — are now working to heal any lingering hard feelings from what’s been some very heated races — especially in the state’s giant 2nd U.S. Congressional District. Every State House seat and the governor’s office is also up for grabs this […]
Posted inNews, sj-web
Congress budget committee rescinds invitation to Alexander in wake of plagiarism scandal
Republicans on the House Budget Committee, led by the GOP budget guru, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, had invited the company’s founder and president, Gary Alexander, to testify during a June 10 hearing about the War on Poverty and Republicans’ efforts to reform federal aid, according to a congressional schedule obtained by the BDN on […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Senate approves $12.3 billion water bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress sent the White House a $12.3 billion water projects bill half the size of its last one seven years ago — before the economy sank into a deep recession that helped swell the government’s debt and before lawmakers swore off cherry-picking pet projects for folks back home. With a 91-7 vote […]
Posted inMaine
Cain says she’s disappointed in message from local union president
AUGUSTA — State Sen. Emily Cain, D-Orono, said she was saddened and disappointed by an email message sent in return to her solicitation for a campaign donation recently. Cain, who is running for the U.S. Congress said pay equity for women in Maine should be a top issue for candidates. In her campaign message, sent […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
GOP, Obama line up behind modest budget deal
WASHINGTON — Top Republicans and President Barack Obama are lining up behind a modest but hard-won bipartisan budget agreement that seeks to replace a portion of tough spending cuts facing the Pentagon and domestic agencies. The deal to ease those cuts for two years is aimed less at chipping away at the nation’s $17 trillion […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Conservative Erick Bennett to challenge Collins in U.S. Senate primary
AUGUSTA — Republican Sen. Susan Collins won’t be unopposed on the primary ballot. The head of a group that opposed same-sex marriage in Maine says he will offer a conservative voice in the GOP primary. Erick Bennett, director of the Maine Equal Rights Center, said he was filing his paperwork Monday. Bennett accused Collins of […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Florida congressman taking leave after cocaine conviction
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Florida Republican Rep. Henry “Trey” Radel said Wednesday he was taking a leave of absence from Congress and donating his salary to charity after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cocaine possession and receiving a sentence of a year’s probation. Radel made the announcement at a crowded news conference where […]