AUGUSTA – After shaking hands on an agreement to honor the Boy Scouts of America, Maine Senate President Justin Alfond (D-Cumberland) and House Speaker Mark Eves (D-North Berwick) ordered Democrats to oppose it.
Sen. Andre Cushing’s (R-Penobscot) nine-month old resolution honoring the Boy Scouts was a bipartisan proposal expected to pass with ease.
Cushing said in a statement from the Republican Senate office that he was dismayed by the actions of the Democratic leadership in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Said Cushing, “This is a resolution that simply honors one of the most enduring institutions for young men in the U.S. Similarly worded resolutions honoring the Boy Scouts have passed without controversy in many other states. But here in Maine, the Democrats have apparently decided to make a political football out of it.”
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According to the Republican press release, Alfond and Eves agreed with Cushing on language for a bill– but then told Democrats in an April 5th email that they planned to “opt out” of the resolution. The message even instructed members how to withdraw support by contacting their legislative assistants.
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As of Monday evening, more than 50 Democratic legislators in the House and Senate had opted out, according to senate Republicans.
Cushing said the entire affair did not bode well for bipartisanship at the State House.
“It’s one thing to have a disagreement over the language of a piece of legislation,” Cushing said. “It’s quite another to reach an agreement with the other side of the aisle, and then encourage your members to oppose it.”
Maine’s first Boy Scouts were established in 1915.
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<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="6053 http://www.themainewire.com/?p=6053">11 Comments
The Democratic legislatures of Maine are always full of surprises. Just when you think they have sunk as low as possible, they manage to find a deeper hole to wallow in.
There are many times thru the years that actions of the democrats have made me want to move out of state.
why the surprise? They will say anything but do what their feel will further their our cause when your back is turned.
What this means is that these Dem’s can never be trusted-even when they shake hands on an agreement-is that the kind leadership we want? Are you Dem’s that elected these guys proud of them? This is the trend all the way up to DC of this “party” —Jack Kennedy would be ashamed of his party acting like this! This shows why to only way to deal with these types of people is to totally defeat them and their ilk. If you voted for any Dem in this last election you getting what you deserve-FAILURE. They must be sent back home and stay there!
It has been clearly stated by the actions of the Democrats that they were never scouts.Clearly Honor and Trust and Character are the main tenants of the Scout Pledge. Take it from one who spent 35 years in scouting, I find none of those qualities here!
Let me guess….Murdoch owns this “news” paper. The Boy Scouts is a homophobic organization. If they want some kind of honor, they should earn it by being honorable.
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