AUGUSTA, Maine — The flow of gubernatorial vetoes through the Legislature continued Monday when the House and Senate overrode seven vetoes from last week. Meanwhile, Gov. Paul LePage issued six new ones — all of Democratic sponsored bills.
Seven of 8 vetoes overridden
The following are the results of override votes taken in the House and Senate on Monday:
— LD 537, An Act To Prohibit Standardized Testing of Children before the Third Grade (Sponsored by Rep. Matthea Daughtry, D-Brunswick). This veto was overridden 145-0 in the House and 35-0 in the Senate.
— LD 511, An Act To Permit a Licensed Sales Representative To Provide Spirits at an Approved Tasting Event (Sponsored by Rep. Sara Gideon, D-Freeport) This veto was overridden 144-1 in the House and 35-0 in the Senate.
— LD 483, An Act Regarding the Reporting Standards for Child Abuse (Sponsored by Rep. Dillon Bates, D-Westbrook). This veto was overridden 143-0 in the House and 35-0 in the Senate.
— LD 1222, An Act To Remove Barriers to School Construction Financing in Regional School Units (Sponsored by Rep. Christopher Babbidge, D-Kennebunk). This veto was overridden 143-2 in the House and 35-0 in the Senate.
— LD 1347, An Act To Implement Recommendations of the Government Oversight Committee To Clarify That Competitive Bid Provisions Apply to Grant Awards (Introducer: Rep. Chuck Kruger, D-Thomaston). This veto was overridden 144-2 in the House and 35-0 in the Senate.
— LD 844, An Act To Improve Transit Services Statewide (Sponsored by Rep. Andrew McLean, D-Gorham). This veto was overridden 145-0 in the House and 34-1 in the Senate.
— LD 1259, An Act To Increase Consumer Protections (Sponsored by Rep. Matthew Moonen, D-Portland). This veto was overridden 138-8 in the House and 34-1 in the Senate.
One veto sustained
One bill that came up for votes on Monday did not survive LePage’s veto: LD 660, An Act To Protect Homeowners from Damage in the Event of a Failure of Public Water Systems (Sponsored by Rep. Jennifer DeChant, D-Bath). This bill was overridden 107-35 in the House but sustained in the Senate, 19-16. That means the bill is dead.
Four vetoes not yet addressed
Four bills vetoed by LePage on Friday, all with Senate sponsors, have not yet been reconsidered:
— LD 294, An Act To Allow a Home Heating Oil Delivery Driver To Bleed a Home Heating Oil Burner (Sponsored by Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham).
— LD 814, An Act To Update the Maine Veterinary Practice Act (Sponsored by Sen. James Dill, D-Old Town).
— LD 849, An Act To Protect Young Bucks – By Request (Sponsored by Sen. David Burns, R-Whiting).
— LD 856, An Act To Amend the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program To Allow for Participation in Early College and Career and Technical Education Programs (Sponsored by Sen. Brian Langley, R-Ellsworth) — LePage line-item vetoed funding for the program and flat-funded it, explaining in his veto letter that he would re-evaluate the scholarship program after one year.
Six new vetoes
The governor issued six new vetoes on Monday afternoon, three of which, according to his veto letters, were because Democrats sponsored them and the governor has vowed to veto every Democrat-sponsored bill:
— LD 255, An Act To Preserve the Integrity of Maine’s Shellfish Industry by Increasing the Penalty for Interfering with Permitted Harvest (Sponsored by Sen. Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick). LePage wrote that he vetoed the bill because it would be too restrictive on the use of mudflats.
— LD 378, An Act To Facilitate the Issuance of a Gravestone for a Deceased Veteran with No Next of Kin (Sponsored by Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland). LePage vetoed this bill because it was sponsored by a Democrat.
— LD 649, Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Modify Coverage for Eyeglasses for Children under the Provisions of the MaineCare Program and Review Certain Reimbursement Rates (Sponsored by Sen. Nathan Libby, D-Lewiston). LePage vetoed this bill because, he said, it is an unfunded mandate on the executive branch.
— LD 829, An Act To Amend the Trespass Laws Pertaining to Railroad Property (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Shaw, D-Standish). LePage vetoed this bill because it was sponsored by a Democrat.
— LD 1176, An Act To Prohibit the Sale and Possession of Powdered Alcohol in the State (Sponsored by Rep. Michael Devin, D-Newcastle). LePage wrote that he vetoed this bill because the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverage and Lottery Operations and the State Liquor and Lottery Commission already have the authority to bar the sale of powdered alcohol in Maine.
— LD 1320, An Act To Amend the Motor Vehicle Laws (Sponsored by Rep. Andrew McLean, D-Gorham). LePage vetoed this bill because it was sponsored by a Democrat.
