The proposal will now go to President Biden’s desk for his signature.
U.S. Congress
Bill to protect electoral vote counts could pass next week, but time is short
Congressional leaders say reforms to the 1887 Electoral Count Act will be attached to a giant federal spending bill headed for a vote before Congress adjourns.
Jan. 6 police heroes honored for defending Capitol from Trump mob
In bestowing Congress’ highest honor, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the officers for ‘courageously answering the call to defend our democracy in one of the nation’s darkest hours.’
Jim Fossel: If it looks like a (lame) duck …
The congressional session between an election and a new term is ripe for exploitation and, in essence, undemocratic.
Senate moves to avert rail strike amid dire warnings
The measure now goes to President Biden’s desk for his signature.
Biden calls on Congress to head off potential rail strike
Commuter railroads and Amtrak would also be affected by a strike because many of them use tracks owned by the freight railroads.
As Maine’s influence in Congress wanes, Sen. Collins holds on to clout
Rep. Chellie Pingree will lose ground next year in a Republican-controlled House, but the Republican senator’s seniority makes her the vice chair of Appropriations, where Democrats will rely on her endorsements.
Collins, King upbeat that electoral count reforms will pass during Congress’s lame duck session
The Senate bill, which aims to prevent a repeat of the tactic insurrectionists used on Jan. 6, 2021, gained six more sponsors this week.
Maine Voices: We have a rare opportunity to improve local libraries
A Senate appropriations bill includes $20 million in federal funding for library buildings nationally.
Quick passage of electoral count reforms in doubt after House diverges from Senate plan
Maine’s Susan Collins led negotiations on the bipartisan Senate version of the bill, which aims prevent a potential repeat of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection attempt.