AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine legislative Democrats say a second request is being filed with the state attorney general on whether Treasurer Bruce Poliquin’s private business dealings violate the state Constitution.
Rep. Mark Dion, D-Portland, made a second request for a formal opinion on Poliquin’s business dealings as owner of the Popham Beach Club. Dion sent his initial request for an opinion to Attorney General William Schneider on Jan. 17. The Attorney General’s Office is investigating.
Democrats say the Constitution bars the treasurer from engaging in any business of trade or commerce while serving in that office.
The Maine Democratic Party has also filed a complaint with the state ethics commission claiming Poliquin failed to disclose financial information required by law in his most recent financial disclosure form.
Good luck…LIEpage and crew won’t look into ROBert Nutting stealing $1.25 million from MaineCare, so they sure won’t look into Poliquin’s deals either…
Funny how that works, if you are a dem appointee, like say the one running MSHA, then by all means investigate. If you are a rep the rules are different…
Socialism is for the people…NOT the socialists
in other words, these rules are for YOU, not me
pretty much the motto of the democrat (socialist) party at large
The same thing be said the other way. Rules are OBVIOUSLY not being followed by this administration: This issue, the governor’s unannounced visit to the Appropriations Committee, his refusal to provide budget numbers. Lying to constituents……on and on and on.
So pretty much, the republican (fascist teaparty) motto is: We are gonna make the money and you are all just gonna like it.
And does anyone else find it odd that all the time Ms. McCormick was State Treasurer, there were absolutely no problems or even vague hints about her honesty? Bruce Poliquin, however, as chair. of MSHA’s board, raises one question after another…all the while forgetting that his own integrity is being called into serious question at this very moment.
He is proof that one doesn’t have to be a hypocrite or a phony to be a Republican, but it sure doesn’t hurt.
Since the AG cannot promptly review this relatively simple matter; Poliquin should suspend all active duties as Treasurer.
Or maybe it would be even better if
Poliquin would stop exposing all the liberal waste….would that make it all better?
Lies about the state’s pension system and unproven innuendo about MSHA, chicken little has done zero for this state. If he really had Maine in his heart rather than his own swollen ego, he’d step down immediately.
Two simple questions settle this matter:
Is he conducting business while Treas- Yes
Does the Maine Constitution allow this- NO
He and his ego can go out the door.
Define “business”
Is the treasurer of Maine not conducting the public “business” while in office? I do believe he is, therefore, you cannot hang your hat on what is a rather vague legal term.
I’m afraid you’ll have to dig a little deeper to the “trade” and “commerce” part of the clause and therin you begin to have a bit of trouble clearly defining the aquisition of a permit for the expansion of a business (i.e. an investment), which the treasurer does not have daily interactions or involvement with, as “commerce” or “trade”.
A quick review of a law dictionary and the rather obvious fact that the treasurer was not actively trading goods or services during the course of his presentation to the planning board suggests you folks may have a bit harder time winning this argument than you think.
Regardless, it will be interesting to see how it plays out and it’s always fun watching a bunch of reactionary democrats get all flustered and in a tissy over something they apparantly haven’t thought through very well.
It has been interpreted for decades that Business should was widely viewed in regards to the state’s treas. You must be viewing things from the altered MHPC non-realty.
Repubs said there was no problem with Brown, what is he doing with DEP?
Running a failing business, such as Poliquins boys club in Popham, is still running a business.
Failing to keep in-touch with reality is a true Lepage admin trait, you seem to be right in-step.
It’s not a law dictionary that prohibits the behavior, it’s Maine’s constitution, and your opinion, or even that of the attorney general’s what “commerce” or “trade” is is irrelevant. We have the Law Court to do that, remember, those people in black robes? A business is ANY activity or enterprise done so for profit. You don’t have to be a company or corporation.
You didn’t say anything about his failure to disclose financial information required by law on his latest financial report. Interesting.
Read this and tell me that Article V part 3 doesn’t say the word “business of trade or commerce”
http://www.maine.gov/legis/const/
True, since LePew and his cronies have now redefined “business,” we must remember to preface it with “monkey.”
Then I guess the $300K+ per unit for low income housing doesn’t count.
I think we’ll keep him.
If he gets through this, it will only be until 2014
Yes I’m sure the people who work for a living are anxious to get back to focusing on being a welfare state. Why would the tax payers want anyone in government who exposes fraud and abuse of our money?
As soon as the number of people sucking off the system rises above the people funding the system, which is already close, you will get your way.
He’s open for business.
It’s a shame that our Harvard-educated State Treasurer needs to go to the Attorney General to clarify a provision in the Maine Constitution that any 7th grader could understand.
Here’s my opinion. “Can” his sorry behind along with Ms. Mary Mayhew and Mr. Nutting. After a year of “work” none of them have done a thing to help Mainers or created one single job. We can’t afford to waste money on people who are only interested in improving their own plight! Now what will the Republican/Tea party do? Well give them a big smile, slap on the back and a raise along with an new title and perhaps new shiny crowns. It’s good to be Kings! As for the people, “Let em eat woopie pies!”
Prior to his taking office current State Treasurer Poliquin had inquired of the then Attorney General as to if his business activity would be considered a conflict of interest as far as the Maine Constitution is concerned. However the sitting Attorney General felt she could not render an opinion due to the fact that at the time Mr. Poliquin was a private citizen and not a Constitutional Officer. She advised Mr. Poliquin to get an opinion from a private attorney. If in fact Mr. Poliquin did seek the advise of private counsel he could clear up this matter relatively quickly by releasing the private counsel’s opinion. While it would not be binding as would an opinion from the Attorney General I am sure that most fair minded individuals would be willing to take the private attorney’s opinion. That way Mr. Poliquin could go back to being the Maine State Treasurer and we could forget about this entire matter.
Would you not suspect that Mr. Poliquin chose not to seek private counsel to get this far behind him quickly (For himself as well as the benefit of all Mainers) because he’s WELL aware that he stands a much better chance of getting past this little “Problem” by having it decided by the State’s Attorney General with whom he now shares a party affiliation? If we currently had a Democratic AG do you have any doubts that he would have gone the opposite route? He may be corrupt but he certainly ain’t stupid.
You’re probably right he’d have been given a pass on this either way. Why exactly I don’t know because it clearly looks like he has engaged in some private business meddlings on his own behalf and is therefore in violation of our State’s Constitution. However as the case may be, people with so much power often do seem to have a whole lot of “Luck” when it comes to decisions over their wrongdoings. Sadly most Mainers don’t even know that any of this is happening in the first place.
Ignorance, the new life’s blood of American politics!
At this point I hardly think it matters. Him, Lockstep Charlie Summers and The AG will be gone by this time next year.
This (mis)administration will go down in Maine’s history as the smelliest ever.
Dems circle the wagons the day before hearings on the Maine Housing oversight bill. Nothing but smoke and mirrors from the Dems. BDN shouldn’t even bother covering this it’s such a transparent political play.
A Republican politician from Portland made the request. It helps when you actually read the article before commenting — you won’t seem like such a partisan hack.
Then why the headline?
HA! Dion is a Democrat and that is a mistake in the article.
It helps when you actually know something about Maine politics before commenting – you won’t seem like such a partisan hack.
In other words, you cannot have business experience and must be a Hack to get the job….if someone can fully disclose a business and conflict of interest, why could they not be state treasuer….? I would be more concerned when people like Dale McCormick got the job because she was a Dem and needed a job…then she moved over to another hack job with again no experience…anybody with horsepower is not wanted in state goverment I guess…. in the meantime, he should do what he has to do to obey the law[ sell the business ] so he can stay in his job which he actually is qualified for..up to now he has done more to help uncover problems than any treasuer I remember..[MHA,MSHA, etc]
You don’t like it change the ME consttitution. Until them chicken little goes just like Brown before him.
Look up the word business….it is vague and means nothing legally
the argument hangs on the terms “trade” and “commerce”
and if you look up a legal definition of those terms, you’ll see that he will most likely skate on the issue
The words “trade” and “commerce” IS business conducting these activities. Look up the two words together and see what you get.
The US Constitution regards “commerce” as the act of buying and selling goods, by legal means, one of which is trading.
Everybody knows what commerce means.
That’s one of the points. He didn’t fully disclose as he is required to. And why should a State Treasurer be rendering a printed opinion regarding another state agency? Why isn’t he hacking up the Sec. of State, or Inland Fisheries?
maybe his business venture is a campaign contributor for reps. and we need all the campaign donations we can get before he leaves office.!!!NOT!!!!! going to happen they are already working on the exception to the rule.
Guys, its another Republican witchhunt like the voter fraud. What did their investigation prove – that we do not have voter fraud in Maine. What will the MSHA investigation show – nothing. What’s a hack – anyone with a government job from the other party.
Are these the Same Democrats who refused to go after MTA. or MSHA Or Green enery alliance, or, or, or ????
I guess the Democrat AG Janet Mills looked to loophole the law rather then inforce it… Keep Digging Governor Paul LePage there are bones scattered everywhere form the last admin…
Bruce uses his own money where Dems use taxpayer money to better themselves…
Ha, Ha the Dems are getting a little self righteous all the sudden. Kind of like calling the kettle black.
Typical Democrats.
Poliquin failed to disclose financial information required by law in his most recent financial disclosure form. Seems cut and dry to me, throw the bum out.
Bruce Poliquin is the best Treasurer, the State of Maine has ever had. His activism has exposed a great deal of corruption, not to mention the fact that he has been very instrumental in getting Maine’s fiscal house in order. I applaud Mr. Poliquin for doing such a great job and for providing a terrific service to the Maine taxpayer.