Matt Gagnon discussed the recent budget vote in Maine, highlighting the Democrats’ push for income tax hikes despite initial hesitation within their caucus and Janet Mills’ campaign promises against broad-based tax increases. The House and Senate agreed on a $11.3 billion state budget, including a $1.30 increase in the cigarette tax and Medicaid funding. Six House Democrats joined Republicans to initially defeat the budget amendment, which later passed 75-73. Sophie Warren was the sole Democratic opponent. The budget, expected to be signed by Mills, includes a $320.6 million spending plan over five years, with a net cost of $118.1 million.
The Democratic National Committee head has decided not to publish a formal assessment of the party's defeat that returned Donald Trump to power and gave Republicans complete control in Washington.
The U.S. government admitted Wednesday that the actions of an air traffic controller and Army helicopter pilot played a role in causing a collision last January between an airliner and a Black Hawk near the nation's capital, killing 67 people.
Four centrist Republicans broke with Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans.
Authorities knocked on doors Monday searching for any video there might be of the Brown University gunman, who could be seen in grainy footage walking away from the weekend attack that killed two students and wounded nine others.
