Angus King (I): “Early this morning, the President announced ‘major combat operations’ against Iran with the stated goal of overthrowing the current regime. While I certainly agree with the President’s statements about Iran’s destructive behavior and the harm it has done in the region (including to Americans, going back to the bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon and including IED’s in Iraq), the statement left me with several questions.
"The first is why hasn’t he made the case to the American people (and to their representatives in Congress) for such a major commitment of American forces, which could include troops on the ground? He had that opportunity as recently as Tuesday night, but did not take it.
"Secondly, why now? All reports were that negotiations with regard to Iran’s nuclear program were proceeding positively this week with the possibility of a long sought-after diplomatic solution, and there is no indication that new malign actions by the regime were imminent.
"The third question is what, if any, is the plan for an endgame now that the goal has moved from elimination of Iran’s nuclear capacity to regime change? As we have learned, toppling a despotic regime is only a first step; the hard question is what comes next and what will it take to insure that the next regime is not worse than that which went before.
"And finally, what is the legal and Constitutional authority for this extraordinary action? The Constitution expliciplicitly places the power (and the responsibility) for taking our country into war in the peoples’ representatives in Congress for a reason—the commitment to war is much too important to rest in the hands of one person. That principle is as valid today as it was at the founding of our country."
Melanie Sachs - Cuts to Medicaid will mean that thousands of Mainers will lose vital health coverage. The expiration of enhanced tax credits in January has also resulted in many being unable to afford their insurance.
In the Legislature, we are fighting to protect Mainers from these attacks on our already-broken health care system. This session, we’re prioritizing bills that would help lower costs by offsetting reckless federal cuts and increasing access in rural and underserved areas.
We’re also considering legislation that would expand access to vaccines and remove cost barriers to keep people healthy, ensuring that science-based evidence guides how we protect public health in our state.
Press Herald - The coordinated attack on Iran by the U.S. and Israel drew reactions from Maine’s congressional delegation, with U.S. Rep Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, blasting the action as an unconstitutional act of war by the Trump administration and U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, saying he fears a “prolonged and destructive conflict.”
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SAD 75 abandons option to close Harpswell’s only public school Two bills before Legislature aim to ease municipal costs for emergency services, shelter |
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