We’re used to brinkmanship in Washington resulting from conflict between Democrats and Republicans. But this shutdown is different. It’s a fight between Republicans and Republicans — or, more specifically, Republicans and the Tea Party. In 1995 and 1996, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., proudly led Republicans into their shutdown fight with President Bill […]
Republican
Posted inMaine
Common Core worries prompt LePage executive order reaffirming school privacy, local control
AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage signed an executive order on Wednesday reaffirming that Maine schools are locally controlled and that students’ personal information remain private in light of concerns about new uniform benchmarks in reading, writing and math. The Republican governor’s order comes just weeks after opponents to the Common Core Standards, which have […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Democrats weigh Republican study group proposal as way to expand Medicaid
AUGUSTA — Democrats who have championed an expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act have one legislative avenue left this year to pass it into law. Ironically, the last chance this year to enact one of the Democrats’ top priorities hinges on a bill proposed by the Republican leader in the Maine House. […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston GOP to meet June 11
LEWISTON — The Lewiston Republican City Committee will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at the Lewiston Armory, 65 Central Ave. For more information, phone 332-4768.
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Obama: Nation stronger, GOP should back his plans
WASHINGTON (AP) — Uncompromising and politically emboldened, President Barack Obama urged a deeply divided Congress Tuesday night to embrace his plans to use government money to create jobs and strengthen the nation’s middle class. He declared Republican ideas for reducing the deficit “even worse” than the unpalatable deals Washington had to stomach during his first […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Fact checking LePage’s State of the State and Democratic response speeches
Gov. Paul LePage cited many facts and figures in his State of the State address Tuesday night. The staff of the BDN analyzed much of this information, as well as claims made by Democratic leaders in their response to the governor. Here is what we found. Claim: Maine passed the largest tax cut in history […]
Posted inFranklin, Maine, sj-web
GOP state senator Saviello proposes raising taxes for households earning at least $250,000
AUGUSTA — Sen. Tom Saviello, R-Wilton, has submitted legislation that would tax Maine households’ earned income that exceeds $250,000 at 8.5 percent, the top state income tax rate before Jan. 1, when tax cuts enacted by the GOP-led 125th Legislature reduced the top rate to 7.95 percent. The higher tax only would apply to the […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. House elects Boehner as speaker again
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has re-elected embattled Republican John Boehner (BAY’-nur) speaker. The Ohio lawmaker won a second, two-year term as leader with 220 votes, losing just a handful of votes in the Republican-controlled chamber. The election of the speaker came as the House and Senate ushered in a new Congress Thursday.
Posted inMaine
Iconic career comes to a close for Sen. Olympia Snowe
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Her decision to wear purple was not by design. She wasn’t trying to make a political fashion statement. It just worked out that way, she said. “No, you’re talking about being a purple state or something,” U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said on the day of her farewell speech to her colleagues […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Fiscal cliff: Why it’s so hard to step back
WASHINGTON — The “fiscal cliff” crisis bundles together some of Washington’s toughest decisions — the ones lawmakers have dodged for years — and says settle them all right now. Or else. Yet bedrock differences between Democrats and Republicans stand in the way. No wonder it’s hard to shake hands on a deal by New Year’s. […]