WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump, facing sagging approval ratings in a midterm election year, is seeking to rally a deeply divided nation in Tuesday night’s State of the Union address with optimism about the growing economy and calls for action on immigration, trade and infrastructure rebuilding. White House officials say Trump will appeal for […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
In State of Union, Donald Trump to make his case on economy
WASHINGTON (AP) — Seeking to move past the shadow of the Russia investigation, President Donald Trump intends to use his first State of the Union address to cite economic progress under his watch while pushing for bipartisanship with Democrats on issues such as rebuilding roads and bridges. The White House said Sunday that the president […]
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Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Democrats can blame Barack Obama for immigration mess
By Marc A. Thiessen Special to The Washington Post The government shutdown is over. Democrats finally realized that closing the government over illegal immigration was a losing political battle. They created a needless crisis and got rolled. So who is to blame for their current predicament? Along with Charles Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, Democrats can […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Democrats blame GOP for allowing a federal shutdown
Several Democrats hoping to win Maine’s 2nd District seat this year in the U.S. House of Representatives were less than impressed with the three-day federal government shutdown resolved Monday. “Congress needs to stop playing politics with our government,” said Bar Harbor cafe owner Tim Rich, a Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a 2nd […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Parties should work around Trump
The Republican Party is in deep turmoil. Because it is the majority party in Congress, the government is in disarray. The cause is the chief executive. I believe that more than 80 percent of Republican legislators disagree with the way the executive branch is being conducted. The separation between the two major parties has widened […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Democratic 2nd District congressional race heats up
Two of the Democrats vying for the right to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin this fall announced endorsements this week that might boost their chances in June’s primary. The most surprising came when two-time Lewiston mayoral contender Ben Chin, who lost runoffs in both 2015 and 2017, threw his support to Monroe home builder […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
The dream crushers
The arrogance of a president and his party has crushed the dreams of millions of Americans who long for a more inclusive government. Crushed are the dreams of those who believe that the purpose of government is to promote the well-being of all its citizens. Devastated are those people who continue to believe that well-being […]
Posted inNation / World
Congress passes spending bill to avert government shutdown
WASHINGTON — Congress passed a stopgap spending bill Thursday, averting a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday but pushing into January showdowns on spending, immigration, health care and national security. Among the issues still to be resolved is federal aid for victims of recent hurricanes and wildfires. The House on Thursday passed a separate $81 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Collins in pressure cooker on tax reform
Sen. Susan Collins is in the pressure cooker heading into a crucial vote on tax reform next week, targeted by protesters in Maine and Washington, lobbyists both for and against the bill, Republican leadership and health care advocates. Progressive activists were arrested at Collins’ Bangor office on Dec. 4 and clergy were arrested at her […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Ample tax cuts for business, wealthy in new GOP tax accord
WASHINGTON (AP) — Generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans would be delivered in a sweeping overhaul of the tax laws, under a new agreement crafted by Republicans in Congress. Middle- and low-income families would receive smaller tax cuts, though President Donald Trump and Republican leaders have billed the package as a huge […]