Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed a bill that would have prohibited money from the Fund for a Healthy Maine from being diverted to the general fund.
The bill was sponsored by State Sen. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston.
In his veto message Tuesday, LePage said, “This bill does not have any legal effect, since a future Legislature can simply pass another law ‘notwithstanding’ this one.”
He added, “If it was put forward solely to score political points against a legislator or governor by claiming that future budget proposals are ‘illegal,’ then I am disappointed for Maine people.”
Fund for a Healthy Maine is funded by the state’s share of the national tobacco settlement money. Historically, the fund was used to pay for health-related programs, though governors have transferred money out of it during budget crises.
Last year, $2.7 million was transferred from Fund for a Healthy Maine into the general fund to help plug a budget hole. That caused a number of health programs, including Healthy Androscoggin, to receive dramatic cuts in state funding. Craven is a member of Healthy Androscoggin’s board.
Lawmakers will likely attempt to override the governor’s veto next week.
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