Fall 2000 Headlines

Claudia Lauer
News Service Assignment - The Bangor Daily News, Bangor, Maine Internship - Congressional Quarterly

Maine Incumbents Pulling Double Duty
WASHINGTON- With the Republican Congress and President Bill Clinton deadlocked on spending and budget issues, Congressional adjournment keeps getting delayed, causing members to scramble for time to campaign while they also question the effectiveness and relative lack of accomplishments of the 106th Congress.

Congress Deadlocked Over Budget
WASHINGTON- Congressional Republicans and Democrats are deadlocked over passage of a federal budget and are beginning to talk about the possibility of sending members of Congress home until an agreement can be reached.

Maine Delagates Tow Party Lines Over Presidential Debate
WASHINGTON- The four members of Maine's Congressional delegation divided strongly and predictably along party lines after the presidential debate last night.

The Electoral College 101
WASHINGTON - While the nation waits to learn who is going to be the next president in what is proving to be one of the closest elections in a hundred years, attention has turned to the little known and somewhat mysterious institution of the Electoral College.

Maine Farmers Try To Keep Pace With Economy
WASHINGTON- Neil Crane didn't become a farmer to get rich. He saw his father struggle; he knows that his grandfather struggled, most of the time taking masonry work to make ends meet. Neil expects that his 33 year-old son, Steven, who has become the fourth generation of Cranes to try to coax growth from Maine's soil, will have to struggle. According to Neil Crane, however, farming is in their blood.

Senate Keeps Government Open Until Nov. 14
WASHINGTON- The Senate passed a two-week Continuing Resolution (CR) yesterday to keep the government running until November 14. This move could push back the budget battle between the Republican Congress and President Bill Clinton until a lame-duck post election session is held.

Clinton Releases $5 Million in Energy Funding For Maine
WASHINGTON- President Clinton released $445 million in emergency Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding last week, but Senator Olympia J. Snowe and the Maine State Housing Authority doubt whether this will be enough to keep Maine residents warm this winter.

Interfaith council joins Washington meetings, voice environmental issues
WASHINGTON - Three representatives of the interfaith Maine Council of Churches took their concerns about global warming and other environmental issues to Capitol Hill this week.

Maine Senators Denounce McCain's Criticism Of Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON- Maine Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins denounced charges by Senator John McCain's (R- Ariz.) that the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill passed by Congress last week is filled with "pork barrel" projects loaded onto the legislation once they knew it would pass.

New Jersey Rep. Saxton Faces Tough Foe After Years of Ease
Republican Rep. H. James Saxton's electoral track record indicates that he rates regard as the favorite again this year in New Jersey's 3rd District.

71-year-old Retired Librarian Hoping For Upset In General Election
The upset of the primary season, New York's first District Democratic candidate Regina Seltzer, has the potential to be the upset of the general election as well, though unlikely.

Clinton Endorses Bill To Legalize Re-importation of Prescription Drugs
WASHINGTON- Members of the Maine congressional delegation are enthusiastic over President Clinton's support for legislation legalizing the re-importation of less expensive prescription drugs from Canada.

Snowe Urges Action on Violence Against Women Act
WASHINGTON- The last few weeks of the Congressional session, now scheduled to end October 20, are expected to be used largely for budget negotiations with little time left for consideration of other legislation. But Senator Olympia J. Snowe Wednesday urged Senate leaders to take up the Violence Against Women Act before the session ends.