Gov. Paul LePage canceled a meeting with incoming Democratic legislative leaders Tuesday after asking the state Democratic Party to call off a cameraman who has been recording him at his public events.
The Republican governor said he won’t meet with Democratic legislative leaders until the cameraman is removed. LePage said that the so-called “tracker” has followed him for months, but that he hasn’t made an issue of it and that it didn’t bother him until Veterans Day, when he said a private conversation with an elderly veteran in poor health was taped.
“The people of Maine are not props, and I will not allow these special interest groups to use them to score political points,” LePage said in a statement.
The Democratic Party said the use of trackers is commonplace, and that its tracker will continue recording LePage during his public appearances.
“Gov. LePage promised us the most open and transparent government in Maine history and yet here he is, publicly attacking a man for videotaping his events. What does have to hide?” the party said in a statement. “If LePage has a problem with his public events being taped or recorded, maybe he should rethink his role in government.”
Democrats regained control of the both the House and Senate in November’s elections two years after Republicans swept into power in both chambers.
LePage’s comments help set the tone for the upcoming session, which formally begins Wednesday with the swearing in of the new Legislature by the governor.
Democratic leaders said they were disappointed by LePage’s decision to cancel his meeting with them to discuss the state’s fiscal problems. The state Revenue Forecasting Committee says state revenues are lagging behind estimates by $35.5 million this fiscal year, which ends June 30, and by $128 million during the two-year budget cycle, which starts next July 1.
The Senate Democratic Office said Democratic legislative leaders issued several invitations asking LePage to meet with them. But LePage’s office didn’t respond until Monday, to say the governor would meet with them on Tuesday, said Ericka Dodge, a spokeswoman for Senate Democrats.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less