Democrats: 51 more bills become law after Paul LePage fails to act

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Democratic lawmakers said Sunday that another 51 bills have become law after Republican Gov. Paul LePage missed his deadline to act on them.

But LePage has said he won’t enforce the laws and is expected to bring the issue to the Maine Supreme Court. He says that because lawmakers adjourned last month, the requirement that he must act on a bill within 10 days doesn’t apply.

Attorney General Janet Mills said Friday that the governor is only allowed to hold onto bills for more than 10 days when lawmakers have adjourned for the year. Lawmakers plan to return on Thursday to finish the remainder of their work for the session.

Among the bills that Democrats say are now law are measures to expand access to a drug overdose antidote and provide insurance coverage for reproductive services to more women.

“We made it clear all week what options the governor had, but instead he ignored the process, the Constitution and defied logic,” House Democratic Leader Jeff McCabe said in a statement.

Peter Steele, a spokesman for LePage, reiterated Sunday that the governor plans to return the bills to the Legislature when it reconvenes for three consecutive days.

Steele said in an email Sunday that Democrats and their “hand-picked” attorney general are entitled to their opinion, but that LePage believes that Mainers deserve a “truly objective opinion from a higher legal authority.”