AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine House on Tuesday overturned a veto by Gov. Paul LePage, marking the first time since the governor took office that one of his vetoes has been challenged.
LePage issued the veto early Tuesday of a Republican-sponsored bill designed to address how schools receive federal funds for certain medical services for special education students.
LD 1003, sponsored by Rep. Peter Edgecomb, R-Caribou, would have directed the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services to work together with an interagency stakeholder group to refine existing MaineCare policies.
The group would have been asked to develop new policies or prepare guidance on billing procedures to “ensure the provision of medically necessary services to students in school-based settings.” Those services include physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy for students with special needs.
Any suggestions for amendments to MaineCare rules regarding such services, which were not explicitly defined in the bill, would have been due by the summer.
LePage said LD 1003 would distract the Department of Health and Human Services from continuing to find solutions to the state’s MaineCare problems and he worried about the bill’s potential cost.
“I have strong objections to the Legislature directing efforts of the executive branch without providing funding for that purpose,” he wrote. “Especially when my departments are already working tirelessly on these issues.
“Another problem with this resolve is that it attempts to force action before we have all the facts. The federal inspector general is currently undertaking an audit of our school-based MaineCare service program and it is unclear what their findings will be. It is possible that we will be required to repay the federal government for past misuses of funds.”
The governor also said he has concerns about continuing to rely on federal funds. If the state does so, “we need to understand all the details up front and make sure we do not leave future taxpayers with huge bills to pay from audit findings,” his veto letter read. “We cannot lose our sense simply because there is a promise of a big check.”
LD 1003 passed through the House and Senate last month under the hammer, which means there was no debate or roll-call vote. In order to override a veto, two-thirds of House members need to support the bill.
Tuesday’s House vote was 124-16. It now goes to the Senate.
“Lawmakers overwhelmingly joined together to stand up for Maine children and our schools,” said Rep. Richard Wagner, D-Lewiston, who serves on the Education Committee, which unanimously passed the measure earlier this year. “This is a simple bill that ensures our school districts have access to funds to take care of students with special needs.”
Last Friday, the governor vetoed LD 145, a bill that sought to protect homeowners during foreclosure proceedings, because he said it would put more of a burden on banks.
The House sustained that veto on Monday, bringing to 16 the number of LePage’s vetoes upheld by the Legislature since he took office.
Follow BDN reporter Eric Russell on Twitter @BDNPolitics.
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This overide is the first glimmer of hope out of Augusta since election day. I hope the Senate doesn’t slam the door shut again.
Maybe LePage will get the message…..The House doesn’t want to go down on his sinking ship !
If the majority rules, there will be justice.
Interesting. Apparently the House is only interested in overriding a Tea Party “leader’s” veto when it involves a “real” Republican’s bill. With the score now at 16 out of 17 in favor of Tea Party Paul I’m still not much impressed with their ability to think and consider matters independently on behalf of Mainers. As long as Paul has House and Senate majorities he will likely continue to get his way on most matters. That’s why it’s important for us to sweep em all out (GOP/Tea Party) next November. A man like Mr. LePage can’t continue to keep getting his way. If he does the people of Maine will continue to get shafted over and over and over.
Sales tax , income tax , increase of ” fees ” again and again. I like what he’s doing and hope the rest of our government employees get the message. Quit spending our money as it dosen’t really grow on trees ! Liberal thinkers love to spend other peoples money. This can’t go on forever. It’s almost a guarantee that if he dosen’t get his way we will continue to get the shaft over and over and over and over……I am not a Tea Partier but it’s one party I would like to attend !
By government employees are you talking about the House Republican members who essentially just told Paulie to Kiss their …, you know the rest. I don’t want to sink so low as to say it but it’s apparently a popular phrase amongst the low brow crowd that is now infecting the higher crust of the Republican elite.
With each tick of the clock we get closer to November 6th.
Don’t get too overconfident. Gay Marriage II is on the ballot it will bring out alot of the Anti-Liberal voters. If alot of those folks return Democrats could easily be in for a long night they may want too forget. Liberals better hope the 53%ers that we don’t show up again.
And don’t you forget that a lot of people who don’t believe that what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their bedroom is any of their business will be out to vote too. You should also consider that not all conservatives share your extreme views, or your mysterious loyalty to a bullying, lying governor, and his cohorts.
By government employees I mean to draw attention to the fact that ALL politicians work for us but tend to forget it until election time !
Who’s stopping ya? The fact of the matter is that things cost. Maine wants to continue with the myth of local control in education so you’re paying about 3 times as much per student as necessary because of redundancy in administrators and buildings, and underutilized faculty and staff. As a result, there’s less money for the important stuff in education, and for the other infrastructure/service needs of the state. Being a small state in terms of population means, too, that economies of scale hurt, rather than help, because much of the infrastructure costs more per capita than in more populous states. But your solution, like LePage’s is to cut the leg off at the knee because the big toe itches.
Best comment here yet, too many people have opinions of what Maine needs to do, by comparing Maine to other states expenditures, without even understanding what Maine IS.
Pretty easy, just google Grover Norquists pledge signers and vote against them.
Let’s wait and see what they do with the $14 mil surplus they just found! I have a feeling that was the purpose of the bill to give surplus to rich in tax cuts. Another cover-up. All you Tea Potty members are about to see a double-cross. There is no way Bubba is going to give that money back to you!
What dialog do you bring, insults and put downs? This state is going in
the RIGHT direction thanks to MR LEPAGE. The democrat hacks have run
this state rough shot for 40 years. Time for a CHANGE. You know the
word “CHANGE” your hero Barry O used it to get elected but he didn’t
make any. I challenge you to state one thing that the Dems have given
the working people of Maine. They certainly have risen the misery
scale to unprecedented heights with taxes and nanny legislation.
In 40 years there have only been two democratic governors in Maine. There have been two republican and two independents too. And if “Barry O” didn’t get blocked at every juncture by republicans that started campaigning for his seat two years in advance, who knows what could have been achieved. The econony and employment issues have improved significantly under him. When George W took over we had a balanced budget. Eight years later we were trillions in debt, involved in two wars, and hated by most of the world.
OBAMA ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
— HIGHEST number of unemployed Americans IN HISTORY.
— HIGHEST number of poverty level Americans IN HISTORY.
— HIGHEST budget deficits IN HISTORY.
— HIGHEST national debt IN HISTORY.
— HIGHEST rate of increase of national debt IN HISTORY.
— WORST depression in 70 years.
— WORST housing market in 70 years.
— WORST job market for African Americans IN HISTORY.
— Most divisive political climate in 150 years.
— Unprecedented Chicago thug-like bullying and threats against the Judicial Branch.
— Most arrogant, snobbish Marie-Antoinette-style First Family IN HISTORY..
“I have strong objections to the Legislature directing efforts of the executive branch without providing funding for that purpose,” he wrote. “Especially when my departments are already working tirelessly on these issues.”
Interesting comment since he’s trying to take over the legislature and tell them what to do!!
Isn’t that what dictators do?
” … MY departments”! When did they become his? I thought all state employees worked on behalf of the citizens of the State of Maine. Hmmmm ….
Finally……the Legislature has decided that it is equal to and is just as much of a leadership branch of government. The governor has strong “objections to the Legislature directing efforts of the executive branch…..”
What is it that the Governor did to the Appropriations Committee this past January and February? Who was the person that just interrupted the committee’s proceedings? Who was the person that said he could not work with the people on the Utilities and Technology Committee?
It’s about time that they bite back!!
In a previous post, I mentioned that any republican who truly wished to work for the people of this state would begin to distance himself from this oppressive would-be tyrant. They should have stood their ground on the previous veto, but this is the start.
Bad day for Lepage, good day for Maine!
It is an election year–too many R’s do not have a backbone.
So any Representative with an R next to their name must rubber stamp whatever the Governor wants?
LePage wants to eliminate the Federal aspect of our budget, which will produce cruel results on the truly needy. I honestly don’t think he cares about hurting the poor.
Amazing. Our dear Governor now cautions us that we must have all the facts before proceeding. I don’t recall his administration providing the details before the DHHS budget was passed, even though legislators were asking for it….or for that matter when his entire budget was submitted. His hypocrisy is astounding.
The first domino falls…
What happened to the Gov’s motto “we must put students first”? Apparently he left out the ” except when it is difficult and costly ” from the State of the State he poorly read in January.
As a parent of a disabled child whom is also a premature infant being 12 weeks early, these services are in dire need in the school system. Without the services in place to help the children of need, we as a group of Mainers are allowing our children to potentially fail. I feel it is utterly wrong for any money what so ever be taken away from the schools in Maine. We are suppose to be raising our children to be upstanding citizens. With all the cuts lately I feel that this sadly will not be true for some. Without an proper education where will our children say in 10 years?
Without these services in place, my child would not be where he is at now. These services are not a waste of money, they do help many children. I have living proof right here beside me!
It is very tough to get mortgage refinance these days especially major banks. It is not a secret every one knows, what is the solution? Check our your local guys or check online for 123 Refinance they should be able to find a solution for you.