KITTERY — Maine and New Hampshire’s U.S. senators say that $11.5 million in construction funding and the procurement of two Virginia-class submarines for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has been listed in a pending appropriations bill. Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and New Hampshire Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte say the provisions are […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Collins, King support bill to extend unemployment benefits
WASHINGTON — White House-backed legislation to renew benefits for the long-term unemployed unexpectedly cleared an initial Senate hurdle on Tuesday, but the bill’s fate remained in doubt in a politically charged election year. The vote came as the two parties made clear they intend to battle for the support of millions of voters who have […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Collins, King hail $607 billion defense spending bill
AUGUSTA — A sweeping $607 billion military spending authorization bill brimming with provisions that will support Maine’s defense contractors and overhaul the military’s justice system has been sent to President Barack Obama for his signature. Late Thursday night, the U.S. Senate passed the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 84-15. The U.S. […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Collins defends vote against drone civilian casualty reporting
AUGUSTA — Sen. Susan Collins’ vote against an amendment to an intelligence budget bill that would require the U.S. to tally and report civilian casualties in drone strikes has caught the attention of a national blogger who argues Collins’ early vote could put the entire 2014 Senate Intelligence Authorization Act at risk. The vote could […]
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Alzheimer’s research should be a national priority
Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease that exacts a tremendous personal and economic toll on the individual, the family and our society. There is no more helpless feeling than to watch the progression of this devastating disease. It is equally painful to witness the emotional and physical damage inflicted on family caregivers, exhausted by an endless […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Collins, King split on vote to restrict Senate filibusters
WASHINGTON — Maine’s U.S. Senators split on a Democratic effort to weaken filibusters and make it harder for Republicans to block confirmation of the president’s nominees for judges and other top posts. Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins voted against the restriction while the independent U.S. Sen. Angus King voted for it. It passed 52-48 — […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Gay rights legislation gains bipartisan support
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gay rights advocates from both parties are newly upbeat about the prospects for Senate passage of legislation that would bar employers from discriminating against workers on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The outlook for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act reflects the nation’s growing tolerance of homosexuality and the GOP’s political […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Collins: ‘I love it that the women of the Senate led the way out of this impasse’
“My staff, too, had been furloughed,” she said at a press conference held at Husson University on Thursday, the day the 16-day government shutdown ended. “I started writing a plan that could move us forward. I marched down to the Senate Floor where I challenged my colleagues to work together. “Shortly after my speech, my phone […]
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 inLocal & State, sj-web
Steve Abbott leaving UMaine to rejoin Sen. Collins’ staff
ORONO — Steve Abbott this week will announce his departure from the University of Maine, where he serves as athletic director, to rejoin the staff of Sen. Susan Collins. Abbott, who in June agreed to remain in that position through December, is expected to announce this week that he is rejoining Collins’ staff and will leave […]