On the final day of the legislative session Gov. Paul LePage did something he hadn’t done in quite some time. He addressed reporters.

This caught the State House press corps by surprise and for good reason.

Media access to the governor has been limited since he took office. Requests for one-on-one interviews are repeatedly denied, and the administration has declined to release the governor’s weekly appearance schedule.

Even under those circumstances LePage has always been willing, if not eager, to answer reporters’ questions. But over the final months of the session the governor was rarely seen or heard.

Getting the governor’s thoughts on specific legislation or initiatives was obviously difficult. He was often whisked away by staff before answering questions at bill signings, some of which went unannounced to the press.

During LePage’s few public events at the Hall of Flags, the State House press corps took to hovering around the governor’s potential exits in order to squeeze in a few queries.

Reporters took their positions Wednesday following the governor’s signing of the bill allowing charter schools in Maine (which was announced). But as the crowd dispersed and administration staff moved to wall off the governor, LePage stopped to answer questions as a bank of television cameras moved in.

He seemed eager to talk. His staff looked nervous.

LePage discussed several issues, including how his policy agenda fared this session. He said he would withhold his assessment until all the Legislature’s work was done because he didn’t want to “piss off” lawmakers.

LePage laughed after he said that. So did reporters.

Here’s why: The governor has been angering lawmakers all session, and not just Democrats.

The discord with Republicans was public in the beginning, but it shifted behind the scenes following a string of controversies that culminated in an April 14 speech in Lewiston. During that event LePage tore into the Republican-controlled Legislature for dithering with his budget and giving him “nothing to do” but “sell newspapers.”

The comments drew a sharp public rebuke from House Speaker Rep. Robert Nutting, R-Oakland. But some lawmakers say at least one private discussion between Nutting and LePage that preceded the April 14 speech was far more colorful.

Nutting declined in April to discuss the exchange.

To what extent the discussions between LePage and GOP leadership played into the governor’s April 14 speech is unclear, but one thing is certain: The budget was definitely on his mind, as was his frustration with Republicans, who, he said, were “coming after me, too.”

LePage fell silent after the April 14 dust-up. From then on the GOP-controlled Legislature ran point, a strategy that led to several significant policy victories, including the party’s long-sought health insurance overhaul and legislation allowing charter schools.

Republicans also succeeded in getting most of what LePage wanted in the budget, specifically pension reform and the biggest tax cuts in state history.

The governor was not entirely complimentary, telling the Capitol News Service that lawmakers had only done “half the job.”

GOP leadership worked to avoid confrontations with LePage. It declined to override LePage’s vetoes, even on bills they overwhelmingly, and in some cases unanimously, supported.

But Republicans didn’t give LePage everything he wanted. And, in at least two known instances, the governor let lawmakers know he wasn’t happy.

One involved a bill that would significantly reduce the state’s buffer zone for vernal pools. Despite the administration’s support for the reduction, an overwhelming majority of lawmakers on the Legislature’s Environmental and Natural Resources Committee voted to keep the existing buffer and instead focus on proper implementation.

The governor responded by calling House Republicans on the committee into his office. He requested a floor amendment that included a new buffer reduction.

Sen. Thomas Saviello, R-Wilton, the committee’s Senate chairman, was not invited to the meeting and he declined to discuss the matter. However, Saviello, a lawmaker who admittedly digs in his heels when offended, fought to defeat the amendment from the Senate floor.

LePage also clashed with GOP lawmakers following the Energy and Utilities Committee’s unanimous rejection of the governor’s proposal to eliminate a requirement that Maine power companies increase the amount of electricity they deliver from renewable resources.

LePage again called in GOP panelists to request that the committee work the issue further.

Republican lawmakers declined to talk about the meeting, but secondhand accounts brought details of raised voices, profanity and slamming doors.

Ultimately, the committee refused to consent to the governor’s request.

LePage is still intent to see through the policy change. On Wednesday he raised the issue again during his end-of-session address to the Senate.

The address, followed by a separate speech to the House, was notable not just for what the governor said, but how he said it. Insistent. Impatient. Frustrated.

GOP lawmakers have ascribed similar descriptions to their private conversations with LePage. Some of those same lawmakers have emerged from the meetings equally vexed.

Nonetheless, after a rocky start, it appears the LePage administration has succeeded in keeping the governor’s displeasure, and penchant for controversy, under wraps.

In return Republicans achieved success in major policy changes while avoiding public confrontations with the governor.

It will be interesting to see if LePage and the GOP can adhere to the same ground rules next session.

smistler@sunjournal.com

This column was updated to note that Sen. Thomas Saviello was not invited to the meeting with the governor.

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