Among other votes, the House passed a bill to extend through September 2019 the federal government’s block grants program to states for temporary assistance for needy families.
immigration
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Jim Fossel: Maine Legislature heading into crunch time
Majority Democrats in Augusta are moving major pieces of legislation that will push the state further to the left.
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Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Panel hears arguments on conflicting bills to direct immigration enforcement in Maine
One would push police to work more closely with federal authorities, while the other would prohibit them from enforcing federal immigration law.
Posted inNation & World, News
Fifth migrant child dies in Border Patrol custody
The U.S. government says a 16-year-old teenager from Guatemala died Monday at a Border Patrol station in South Texas, the fifth death of a migrant child since December
Posted inNation & World, News, Politics
Before Trump’s purge at DHS, top officials challenged plan for mass family arrests
The administration wanted to target the crush of families that had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border after the president’s failed ‘zero tolerance’ push in early 2018, current and former officials say.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News, Politics
Maine police say bill that would prohibit profiling goes too far
Law enforcement officials say profiling is unacceptable but object to the costs of a measure to mandate training and require police to collect data and investigate complaints.
Posted inElections, Local & State, News, Politics, Schools and Education
Emotions flare as lawmakers debate measure to ensure that only citizens vote
A legislative committee was divided Friday over two proposals, inspired by recent events in Portland, to make Maine’s Constitution explicitly state that only U.S. citizens can vote in the state’s elections.
Posted inMaine Voices, Op-Eds, Opinion
Maine Voices: Teachers of color will help new Mainers achieve
Immigrant students need mentors and role models and adults need alternative pathways to credentialing.
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
Our View: Asylum support bill invests in Maine’s future
Denying food, rent and health care assistance to asylum seekers won’t make us richer. Helping people get started will help the state grow.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Lawmakers consider bills to reinstate asylum seekers’ access to welfare benefits
Welfare reforms pushed by former Gov. Paul LePage and the Republican-controlled Legislature eight years ago eliminated access to some assistance programs for non-citizens.