AUBURN — Sparks flew early between Lewiston’s mayoral candidates during a Twin Cities candidate forum Wednesday evening. Mayor Robert Macdonald and challenger Larry Gilbert sparred over Macdonald’s history as mayor in the event sponsored by the Young Professionals of the Lewiston-Auburn Area. Gilbert kicked it off, saying he would be inclusive, not divisive. “Let’s get […]
politics
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Sen. Angus King criticizes U.S. House leadership
PORTLAND — A last-minute agreement by Senate leaders may avert a threatened Treasury default and reopen federal government but Sen. Angus King of Maine says Congress is doomed to repeat itself unless the House leadership ditches a rule limiting which proposals make it to the floor. House Speaker John Boehner has used the so-called Hastert […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage wants feds to officially open Cobscook Bay boat ramp
LUBEC — U.S. Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree say the federal government will allow a boat launch ramp at a state park to stay open despite the shutdown but Gov. Paul LePage says it’s still not officially open. “The State has not received notification from the Obama Administration indicating that Edmunds Boat Launch is open,” […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage spokesman explains $47 million ‘surplus’ in governor’s speech
AUGUSTA — A statement made by Gov. Paul LePage about a $47 million “surplus” had Democrats and others in Augusta scratching their heads Wednesday morning. In a talk given to a conservative women’s group on Monday, LePage said Maine’s economy was looking good: “The economy as a whole is actually doing pretty well. I don’t […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Obama signs bill to avert default, open government
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed a measure into law reopening the federal government and averting a potential default. The White House says Obama signed the bill early Thursday, hours after the House gave final approval. The White House budget office has already instructed federal workers to plan to return to work Thursday […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Five running for 2 at-large seats on Auburn council
AUBURN — Candidates for the city’s two at-large seats have a wide range of opinions about what’s best for the city. “If you like things the way they are, don’t bother voting for me,” candidate Robert Sevigny said. “If I get elected, everything is on the table. Everything: restructuring city departments, renegotiating all the city […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
‘Susan Collins is a gang of one’
WASHINGTON — Earlier this month, Sen. Susan Collins, dispirited, sat watching her colleagues on the Senate floor stake out opposing positions over funding the government. She decided she’d had enough. “Each side was lobbing partisan grenades at the other side, despite the fact that we had a really serious problem confronting us,” the Maine Repuiblican […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Four candidates for 2nd Congressional District raise more than $200,000
PORTLAND — Maine congressional candidates are reporting raising more than $200,000 from July through September for their 2nd Congressional District campaigns. In a quarterly finance reports filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission, Democratic state Sen. Emily Cain of Orono reported raising more than $75,000 for the quarter, while fellow Democratic Sen. Troy Jackson of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage warns that more state worker layoffs could be coming
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage told legislative leaders Tuesday morning that more layoffs of federally funded state workers could be coming this week unless the federal government shutdown ends soon. Senate Minority Leader Mike Thibodeau, R-Winterport, and House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette, R-Newport, told the Bangor Daily News after a Tuesday morning meeting he and […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. House to vote on budget and debt limit Tuesday night
WASHINGTON — Time growing desperately short, House Republicans pushed for passage of legislation late Tuesday to prevent a threatened Treasury default, end a 15-day partial government shutdown and extricate divided government from its latest brush with a full political meltdown. There was no immediate reaction from the White House to the measure, which was revised […]