AUGUSTA – The Maine House of Representatives went back into Democratic hands Wednesday.
In late afternoon, just as Speaker John Richardson was about to unveil some power-sharing adjustments to reflect a newly created numerical deadlock in the 151-member House, one former Democrat who helped establish the tie – Joanne Twomey of Biddeford – announced she was re-enrolling as a Democrat and restoring that party to a bare plurality.
The surprise reversal came at the end of a dizzying opening day of the Legislature’s 2006 session.
Earlier, Democratic rank-and-file lawmakers trooped in and out of the speaker’s office while former Republican leaders arrived at the State House to confer with their successors in anticipation of organizational changes.
As political speculation buzzed through the capitol corridors Wednesday, the balance of power teetered precariously.
“We’re looking for parity,” House Republican leader David Bowles said one day after lawmakers began to come to terms with a numerically knotted chamber.
A recent decision by Rep. Barbara Merrill of Appleton to leave the Democratic Party made her the fourth unenrolled member of the 151-member House, which also has one Green Party member.
With Democrats and Republican tied 73-73, talks were under way about a variety of organizational issues including committee chairmanships, which are ordinarily awarded to reflect the majority party’s dominance.
A spokesman for Speaker John Richardson said the Brunswick Democrat remained open to discussion.
“His only goal, his only criterion, is what is going to help us move forward,” and to conduct legislative chores for the year in a timely fashion, said David Connerty-Marin.
Bowles, who lives in Sanford, said Republicans sought “equity in a number of areas.”
As for pressing their case, Bowles said: “It’s not our intention at this time to attempt to remove the speaker or change the speaker.” Allowing that such an effort “is an option,” Bowles added it was “not our intention, not our goal.”
But the day’s events were overtaken.
A tearful Twomey said no deal was involved in her new registration change and that she remained critical of parts of the Democratic agenda.
“Boy, how do I get in these messes?” she asked toward the conclusion of her remarks from the House floor.
Richardson told House members he regretted any confusion, drama or pain that had resulted from the recent tumult in the ranks and said Democratic and Republican leaders would meet anew on Thursday.
Bowles said the Republican focus was still the same.
“It doesn’t change Republicans’ concern about a lack of power-sharing. … It doesn’t alter the fact that Republicans are currently shut out of the power-sharing process,” Bowles said.
House Democrats were scheduled to hold a caucus meeting Wednesday night.
In a statement issued before Twomey’s change of heart became known and which envisioned giving Republicans eight of 17 committee House chairs, Richardson cast the issue before lawmakers as one of cooperation.
“This is going to be a true test of bipartisan cooperation, and I know that this Legislature will meet the challenge,” he said. “We have many past accomplishments, such as the bipartisan passage of property tax reductions, bipartisan passage of civil rights, bipartisan passage of portions of the budget, and today’s bipartisan passage of heating fuel assistance for the elderly to look to as examples of what can be accomplished when we all work together. We are going to build on our past successes and create more successes for Maine people,” he said.
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