The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Maine Wire Podcast: Carroll Conley on Abortion, LGBT, and Religious Liberty in Maine
  • Dems Block Debate on Gov’s Late-Term Abortion Bill, Refuse GOP Questioning of Medical Experts
  • Partisan Vote Ends Brakey’s Bid for Welfare Work Requirements
  • Democrats Block Parental Rights Policies, Including Bill to Let Parents “Opt Out” of Critical Race Theory Programming
  • White House Bracing for Supreme Court to Kill Student Loan Forgiveness Program: WSJ
  • State Legislature Poised to Pass Bill Establishing Home “Energy Scoring System” That Will Be Voluntary — For Now
  • Syrian Asylum Seeker Targets Children in Stabbing Spree at French Playground
  • Study Shows Nearly a Third of Gen Z Supports In-Home Government Surveillance Cameras
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Friday, June 9
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Legislature Ignores Governor’s 65 Vetoes
News

Legislature Ignores Governor’s 65 Vetoes

Nathan StroutBy Nathan StroutJuly 16, 2015Updated:July 16, 2015No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

Not backing down, Governor LePage continues to insist that he has vetoed 65 of 71 bills which many state officials and legislators claim are now law.

On Thursday, the first day the legislature reconvened, the governor sent the legislature 65 vetoes to consider, along with a letter expressing his interpretation of the Constitution and his assertion that the vetoes are valid and should be considered.  Democrat leaders in the House and Senate, along with Senate President Mike Thibodeau, elected Thursday to not take up the governor’s vetoes and treat the 71 bills as law.

The disagreement hangs on a technicality.  When the legislature is in session, the governor has 10 days to either veto bills passed by the legislature or let them go into law.  However, the LePage administration is arguing that the legislature adjourned on June 30th.  If the administration is right, then LePage had more time to consider the bills–he would not have to deliver his vetoes until the legislature had reconvened for a consecutive three days.

“Today the Legislature is back for the first time since its adjournment, making it the first opportunity for Governor LePage to return bills to legislators.  The State of Maine Constitution mandates the governor has 10 days to act on bills if lawmakers are in session. However, if the Legislature has adjourned, the governor is not required to take action until the Legislature reconvenes for three full and consecutive days,” wrote the administration in a press release Thursday.

Democrat leaders, along with Democrat Attorney General Janet Mills and the revisor’s office claim that the legislature’s adjournment was only temporary, not the final adjournment that is necessary to extend the governor’s veto period.  Despite opposition to his interpretation, the governor continues to insist that the legislature’s adjournment triggered the extended veto period.

With neither side backing down, either one could settle the dispute by taking the question of adjournment to the Maine Supreme Court.  While Democrats have been reluctant to do so, LePage has announced his intention to bring the issue before the court.

“Governor LePage is prepared to send a letter requesting a solemn occasion to the Law Court if the Legislature neglects to take up the vetoes delivered Thursday morning,” wrote the administration in a press release Thursday.

All 65 veto messages can be found here.

 

Governor's Letter to Legislative Council RE 65 Vetoes 7.16.15

Featured Governor LePage Maine maine constitution veto
Previous ArticleMaine Unemployment Claims at Lowest Levels in Decades
Next Article Poliquin: The Dodd-Frank Act Is Hurting Maine Businesses
Nathan Strout
  • Website

Nathan Strout is a Development Associate with The Maine Heritage Policy Center as well as a staff writer for The Maine Wire. Born and raised in Portland, Strout is a graduate of Eastern University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Legal Studies.

Related Posts

Maine Wire Podcast: Carroll Conley on Abortion, LGBT, and Religious Liberty in Maine

June 8, 2023

Dems Block Debate on Gov’s Late-Term Abortion Bill, Refuse GOP Questioning of Medical Experts

June 8, 2023

Partisan Vote Ends Brakey’s Bid for Welfare Work Requirements

June 8, 2023

Leave A Reply

Recent News

Maine Wire Podcast: Carroll Conley on Abortion, LGBT, and Religious Liberty in Maine

June 8, 2023

Dems Block Debate on Gov’s Late-Term Abortion Bill, Refuse GOP Questioning of Medical Experts

June 8, 2023

Partisan Vote Ends Brakey’s Bid for Welfare Work Requirements

June 8, 2023

Democrats Block Parental Rights Policies, Including Bill to Let Parents “Opt Out” of Critical Race Theory Programming

June 8, 2023

White House Bracing for Supreme Court to Kill Student Loan Forgiveness Program: WSJ

June 8, 2023
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.