Good morning from Augusta and another week of Maine politics. Don’t be fooled: The fact the holiday made this a short work week doesn’t mean there won’t be a lot going on. We’ll just have to wait and see.
It’s hard to imagine that the tumult that surrounded Gov. Paul LePage for his public comments over the past two weeks could be matched in either scope or fervor, but there are loose ends to tie up. Later today, Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves is expected to receive the results of a survey he launched last week of House members to determine if they are in favor of convening to discuss disciplinary measures against the governor.
As you’ve read, Republican leaders in the House and Senate have rejected the concept of returning to Augusta for a special session. That renders the Eves survey all but moot, though you can expect the results to be used as fodder by Democrats leading up to the election. Many have loudly called on LePage to resign and there’s really no reversing tack on that.
For his part, LePage has said he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. During his weekly radio appearance today on WVOM, he said he has moved on and spent most of the segment talking about his policy goals for the next two years, which are nothing new: Reduce taxes and energy costs, work on public infrastructure improvements, fight drugs and reduce social service waitlists.
“I look forward to the next two years as a honeymoon compared to the last two years,” said LePage, who has faced everything from a failed impeachment attempt to an ongoing federal lawsuit against him by Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves.
Given LePage’s confrontational history and the Democratic party unified solidly against him, there is no way we’re in for any kind of political honeymoon. All eyes are on the November elections and how they’ll affect the balance of power in the Democrat-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate. LePage said today he is not expecting the situation to improve, at least from Republicans’ perspective.
“I expect to lose the Senate. The lack of action over the past two years, I think that’s going to hurt us,” LePage said in response to a question about whether the controversy surrounding him will hurt legislative Republican candidates at the polls.
To read today’s full Daily Brief, click here.
