Gov. Paul LePage speaks in Brunswick in this 2014 file photo. (JOHN SWINCONECK / THE TIMES RECORD)
The governor’s office has confirmed that, despite the failure of an impeachment effort in the House, Gov. Paul LePage will not deliver an in-person State of the State address this year.
“The Governor will submit his message to the Legislature in writing, as was done historically,” LePage spokesman Peter Steele wrote in an email to The Times Record Tuesday afternoon.
LePage had previously delivered the address in-person in late January or early February. However, LePage, speaking to Bangor radio station WVOM earlier this month, first mentioned that he wouldn’t bother with an in-person address.
Sara Gideon
According to the Associated Press, a group led by Democratic Rep. Ben Chipman of Portland wanted to punish the LePage for pressuring a charter school operator into rescinding a job offer to Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves.
Their efforts came up short as the House voted 96-52 to indefinitely table debate, and instead approved a resolution that sought to affirm legislative leaders’ pledge to honor the duties of public office.
In light of the impeachment’s failure, the question was raised as to whether LePage would indeed deliver the address in-person on a segment of “The Rachel Maddow Show” Monday regarding the governor’s controversial, racially charged remarks on the state’s drug crisis and the impeachment attempt.
The question over the State of the State was left unanswered, as Maddow displayed a correspondence between her staff and Steele, who had asked “Why does Rachel Maddow have such an unnatural obsession with Governor LePage?”
Both the State of the Union and State of the State addresses may seem somewhat antiquated in the Internet age, begging the question, does it even matter how LePage delivers his address?
Assistant House Majority Leader Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, said LePage’s refusal to speak before the Legislature “is just another example of him not really responding to his role as governor and chief executive.”
Delivering the address, she said, is “something that shows respect to the people who voted for this person and put him in office,” as well as a showing respect to the Legislature.
“It matters for that reason,” Gideon said. “There’s no reasons to be playing games like this.”
The Legislature has moved on from the impeachment question, but has also learned how to govern without the governor. Gideon pointed to the 2015 session where the Legislature was able to override dozens of vetoes, overrides which survived a court challenge from LePage.
“The Legislature has determined that the governor is often not relevant in policy decisions any more. He has put up so many barriers — not based on policy — that we see Republicans join with Democrats and passing policy that is the right thing to do.”
Gideon added that while she will likely continue that course, that she still has a “duty to work with this governor.”
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