DEMOCRATS SLAM GOVERNOR’S INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR

Dems refuse to let LePage hijack hearing

AUGUSTA—After Governor Paul LePage interrupted an Appropriations Committee hearing to lecture lawmakers, Democrats said he was an embarrassment to the state.

“The Governor has no clue what he is doing, other than to cause conflict, which he does well and seems to thrive on,” said Assistant Majority Leader Troy Jackson (D-Allagash). “He should just go on another vacation and let the Legislature do its work. We’ll have it settled when he gets back.”

At the conclusion of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs committee meeting, Governor LePage approached the microphone to speak. In his brief remarks to the committee, he claimed his administration had not been represented–despite the preceding two hours spent with two of his highest ranking budget officials, and abruptly ended his appearance by saying, “the people of the state of Maine are being played for patsies.”

“Democrats are not going to allow the Governor to hijack a productive hearing just because he didn’t like the outcome,” said Assistant House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe, D-Skowhegan. “We are not going to let the Governor distract us from getting work done.”

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