It was the latest development in a bizarre dispute that has enveloped Augusta for a week. LePage held 71 bills for longer than the 10 days normally afforded him to veto legislation, prompting many lawmakers and the state’s attorney general to declare the bills had become law without the governor’s signature.
On Thursday, LePage delivered vetoes of 65 of those bills, and urged the Legislature to consider his vetoes. Both House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, and Senate President Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, said they would not let the vetoes hit the floors of their respective chambers.
LePage argued that because lawmakers left Augusta on June 30, he had been prevented from returning the vetoes on time. The Maine Constitution states that if a Legislature adjourns, the governor may hold bills until three days after they return.
The House and Senate passed a temporary adjournment order on June 30 to give LePage time to act on the bills. Top lawmakers and Attorney General Janet Mills said that temporary recess was not adjournment, and thus did not give LePage more time to act.
“My goal is to ensure only bills that represent good public policy become law, and I am exercising the power granted to me by the Constitution to do so,” LePage said in a letter accompanying the vetoes. “I hope you will vote to sustain all of these vetoes at your earliest opportunity.”
Senate President Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, has not yet commented on the disputed vetoes. However, Senate Secretary Heather Priest said the bills sent to the Senate would be sent immediately to the revisor’s office and would not be considered on the floor of the Senate, indicating Thibodeau’s belief the vetoes are out of order.
Eves rejected the vetoes as out of order.
“You cannot veto a law,” Eves said in a statement. “This legislation is already law, in accordance with the Constitution, history and precedent. The governor’s veto attempts are out of order and in error. He missed the deadline to veto the bills.”
Only House Minority Leader Ken Fredette, R-Newport, has backed the governor. He said the vetoes should be considered
“These vetoes have been delivered. They’re there. We should act on them. There’s no reason we shouldn’t,” he said in an interview Thursday.
LePage said he would seek an opinion of the state’s Supreme Judicial Court if the Legislature refused to accept the vetoes.
UPDATED 1 P.M.: AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s Democratic House Speaker says that Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s 65 vetoes are too late.
LePage delivered 65 veto messages to the Legislature on Thursday but lawmakers say they won’t consider them. Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves said that the bills have already become law, so the governor’s attempt to veto them is out of order.
The governor typically has 10 days to take action on bills or they become law without his signature. But LePage says the 10-day deadline doesn’t apply in this case because lawmakers adjourned last month. Attorney General Janet Mills has rejected his argument.
Shortly after LePage’s staff delivered the veto messages to the Legislature, the Secretary of the Senate returned them to the Revisor’s Office.
LePage told reporters Thursday that if lawmakers don’t consider his vetoes, he will take the issue to the Maine Supreme Court.
Senate Secretary taking LePage’s late vetoes to the revisor’s office. Senate will not accept them. #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/YWT5AnYlck
— Mario Moretto (@riocarmine) July 16, 2015
UPDATED 1:21 A.M.: AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage delivered 65 veto messages to the Legislature on Thursday morning, even though the state’s attorney general has said that he missed his chance to take action on those bills.
LePage officials delivered the veto messages to the Legislature on Thursday. Lawmakers have returned to Augusta for a one day-session to finish up their work and adjourn for the year.
Lawmakers and Attorney General Janet Mills say that LePage can no longer act on the bills because he held them for more than 10 days. The measures have already been chaptered into law.
In a statement released Thursday morning, LePage said the Legislature had adjourned and he was not required to act upon them “until the Legislature reconvenes for three full and consecutive days.”
Democrats have said that they won’t consider the vetoes if LePage attempts to return them to the Legislature.
This story will be updated.
Governor's Letter to Legislative Council
Also on this page: The governor’s veto messages
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