LePage court challenge keeps Democrats and Republicans united

Senate President Mike Thibodeau. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

Senate President Mike Thibodeau. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

House Speaker Mark Eves. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

House Speaker Mark Eves. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

The leadership of the Maine Legislature is remaining united in opposition to an unconstitutional power grab by Gov. Paul LePage.

The governor has pushed the limits of executive power to the breaking point. And now the conservative president of the Senate and the liberal speaker of the House are standing together to argue against him before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

“House and Senate leaders will speak with one voice before the court. This is not a partisan issue. It is a matter of the Constitution, history and precedent,” said House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick in a press release. “We urge the court to take quick and decisive action to ensure these laws are enforced.”

Near the end of the legislative session, LePage made a serious mistake. He attempted to veto at least 70 bills after they had become law. The Maine Constitution allows the governor only 10 days (not counting Sundays) to take action on legislation that has been enacted.

Unless he vetoes the bills, they become law without his signature. LePage missed the deadline and then made a weak legal argument trying to undo his error.

The Legislature rejected his efforts. The attorney general issued the legal equivalent of a smackdown. And the governor decided to take his case to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

The Supreme Court is expediting its review of the case and has asked for written briefs to be filed by July 24 and scheduled a hearing for July 31.

Republicans who are willing to stand up to the governor are surely under intense pressure from his political apparatus. But they deserve support for their willingness to do what’s right and face down a governor of their own party.

Whether through malice or incompetence – or perhaps a combination of both – the governor has created this crisis. He alone is responsible, and a growing number of former allies understand that and are putting the good of the state ahead of loyalty to political party.

LePage is becoming more and more isolated, without a legal leg to stand on.

David Farmer

About David Farmer

David Farmer is a political and media consultant in Portland, where he lives with his wife and two children. He was senior adviser to Democrat Mike Michaud’s campaign for governor and a longtime journalist. You can reach him at dfarmer14@hotmail.com.