DEMOCRATS DENOUNCE LEPAGE SHUTDOWN, VETO THREATS

Democrats call on Republicans to reject “do nothing” politics

AUGUSTA – Democratic leaders on Friday denounced Governor Paul LePage’s threat to halt the work of the Legislature by abusing his veto power and shutting down state government until his hospital repayment plan becomes law.

“In one week we’ve heard ongoing threats to shutdown state government if Republicans don’t get what they want. Today, the Governor promised to veto every bill that comes across his desk if he doesn’t get what he wants. This is not governing. This is not leadership. It is the type of political gamesmanship that doesn’t belong here in Maine,” said Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall of Richmond. “I suspect the people of Maine want leaders not schoolyard bullies. We have serious challenges facing our economy and we should be focused on finding solutions not making threats.”

Weekly Radio Address: Jackson calls for leadership, not do-nothing Washington style politics

Weekly Radio Address: Senator Jackson

Another week in Maine, another winter snow storm. We make the best out of any situation. That is the Maine way.

Good morning. I’m State Senator Troy Jackson from Allagash. 

I’m encouraged by all the snow we’ve been getting to boost our rural economy. There’s no doubt it helps our snowmobile industry and our ski areas, and later today I will have the pleasure of being part of the Can-Am Sled Dog Race in Fort Kent.

Activities like these remind me that Maine is where people should be coming for their winter vacation, not Florida.

With a state that has so much to offer, I wish we’d be getting headlines for that but instead, lately, we hear more about the negative side of things.

It is true Maine faces serious challenges.

MPBN: LePage Veto Threat Ignites Partisan Firestorm in Augusta

By Jay Field

Gov. Paul LePage says he will veto all bills that cross his desk unless the Democratic-controlled Legislature signs onto his plan to pay off $484 million in Medicaid debts owed to Maine hospitals. But Democrats are dismissing LePage’s veto threat, made during a morning interview on a Bangor radio station, as political gamesmanship. Jay Field reports.

Gov. LePage says renegotiating the state’s wholesale liquor contract – and using the proceeds to repay the hospitals – will create jobs and boost Maine’s overall economy.

LePage first proposed the idea back in January. But since then, the governor has grown more and more irritated. Democrats, he says, have moved quickly on other, less important bills and put his proposal on the back burner.