Gov. LePage
vetoes 31 more bills
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine lawmakers will have their hands full next week when they return to consider additional bills vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage.
The Republican governor vetoed 31 bills on Friday. He used the same veto letter for several bills, accusing lawmakers of “passing bills at breakneck speed, just so they can pack up and go home for the summer.”
LePage has threatened to veto all bills because lawmakers didn’t pass his income tax proposal. But he has allowed several to become law without his signature.
Among the bills vetoed Friday is a measure that seeks to ensure more private wells are tested for contaminants such as arsenic.
Lawmakers are returning Tuesday to consider whether to override more of LePage’s vetoes. He has vetoed well over 100 bills so far this session.
Dems consider
actions against LePage
AUGUSTA (AP) — Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves says that lawmakers are reviewing all options for possible actions against Republican Gov. Paul LePage for his recent behavior.
Eves accused LePage this week of blackmailing a school by threatening to withhold funds to get him fired from a job there. Eves has said he’s considering suing LePage.
That has prompted a few liberal lawmakers to call for a formal investigation that could potentially lead to impeachment.
The Portland Press Herald reports that House Democratic Leader Jeff McCabe said Friday that “nothing is off the table” in terms of potential actions against LePage. But he and Assistant Democratic Leader Sara Gideon are also urging members of their caucus to show restraint while they investigate the facts.
Equality backers
tout role of Bonauto
PORTLAND (AP) — Advocates for marriage equality in Maine are celebrating the role played by Portland resident Mary Bonauto, the attorney who represented same-sex couples in the case that on Friday extended gay marriage nationwide.
Bonauto is the civil rights project director for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, which argued the case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Equality Maine executive director Elisa Johansen said the group is honored by Bonauto’s role, and called Bonauto “an incredible champion” for civil rights.
“We couldn’t be more proud, and we couldn’t be more honored that she lives in Maine,” Johansen said. “She did something amazing today.”
Equality Maine was planning to hold a midday rally in Bangor following the historic ruling, and more celebrations were planned in Portland and Ogunquit for later in the day. Bangor Pride Festival is this weekend.
Bonauto, who has been working with GLAD since 1990, said the ruling “brings joy and relief to millions of Americans.” She was in Washington, D.C., for the ruling.
“No single ruling can fix the scarring prejudice and stereotypes that have plagued good people for so long, but this can go a long way in helping people discover their common humanity,” she said.
Maine voters legalized same-sex marriage in November 2012.
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