Democratic leaders’ agreement with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., suggests it is just a matter of time until the Senate passes the $1.9 trillion package.
Politics
Local, statewide and national political news from the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News, Politics
Legislative committee approves supplemental budget that wouldn’t tax relief loans for businesses
Sticking points remain, but the proposal providing full conformity with federal taxes is endorsed on an 8-5 party line vote.
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Posted inNation & World, News, Politics
By slimmest of margins, Senate votes to take up $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill
The Senate’s 51-50 vote to start debating the package, with Vice President Kamala Harris pushing Democrats over the top, underscores how they are navigating the package through Congress with virtually no margin for error.
Posted inNation & World, Politics
Eager to act, Biden and Democrats leave Republicans behind
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.
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.
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 inMaine, 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, Maine, 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.