Good morning from Augusta, where the Maine House of Representatives has been asked to vote via email on whether or not to return for a special session to address Gov. Paul LePage’s latest controversy after remarks last week about minority drug dealers and a profane voicemail to a Democratic lawmaker.
The email from House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, went out just after 9 a.m. on Friday and asks, “Do you consent to coming in for a special session of the Legislature to take action regarding the Governor’s conduct?” Responses are due on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and non-responses will be counted as no votes.
This was the subject of some confusion after a meeting between legislative leaders on Thursday, which led to a three-way split between Democrats and the two top Republicans, Senate President Mike Thibodeau of Winterport, and House Minority Leader Ken Fredette of Newport.
The Maine Constitution provides a high hurdle, saying a majority of legislators in each political party must agree to come back.
Democrats say they’re unanimous in wanting to return to consider LePage’s removal from office. Thibodeau is willing to consider returning to censure LePage and says some in his caucus want to, as well. Fredette and his caucusdon’t want to return and say they have the votes to block it.
So, Democrats and Thibodeau are aligned on wanting to come back. But their alliance frayed a bit on Thursday.
That’s when Eves angered Thibodeau by telling reporters that the Senate president — who is first in the gubernatorial line of succession — would make a better governor than LePage. Thibodeau said that’s a moot point because there’s no will among Republicans to consider removing LePage from office.
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