The pandemic is driving the crush of legislative action, but so are the still-raw emotions from the U.S. Capitol siege as well as the hard lessons of the last time Democrats had the sweep of party control of Washington.
Politics
Local, statewide and national political news from the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
Posted inBusiness, Nation & World, Politics
White House says relief checks will go to most people who got $600 payments
A White House official says 98% of U.S. households that received COVID-19 relief checks in December will also qualify for the next round of payments.
advertisement
Posted inNation & World, News, Politics
Democrats tighten relief benefits, firm up support for pandemic relief bill
Under Wednesday’s agreement, the Senate bill would halt stimulus checks completely for individuals making $80,000 or more and couples earning $160,000.
Posted inNation & World, News, Politics
House passes sweeping voting rights bill over Republican opposition
The bill would require states to automatically register eligible voters and offer same-day registration, but it faces big obstacles in the Senate.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World, News, Politics
Sen. King to chair Senate panels on national parks and nuclear forces
Maine’s junior U.S. senator was tapped to chair the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, and a subcommittee that oversees U.S. nuclear and strategic forces.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Legislative panel votes to keep Maine’s ban on plastic shopping bags
Enforcement of the law has been temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted inNation & World, Politics
House cancels session because of ‘possible plot’ to breach Capitol
The threat appears to be connected to a far-right conspiracy theory, mainly promoted by supporters of QAnon, that Trump will rise again to power on March 4.
Posted inNation & World, News, Politics
Democrats agree to narrow who gets $1,400 checks in COVID-19 relief bill
A Democratic official says President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats have agreed to tighten the upper income limits at which people could qualify for stimulus checks in the party’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill.
Posted inNation & World, News, Politics
Sen. Collins to back Haaland for Interior secretary, sealing her approval
The announcement makes Haaland’s confirmation by the Senate nearly certain and follows Haaland’s endorsement last week by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.
Posted inNation & World, Politics
Biden urges Senate Democrats to rally behind $1.9 trillion virus relief bill
The legislation would provide $1,400 payments to individuals plus hundreds of billions of dollars for schools and colleges, COVID-19 vaccines and testing, mass transit systems, renters and small businesses.