During Gov. Paul LePage’s weekly radio appearance today on WVOM, he said he has moved on and spent most of the segment talking about his policy goals for the next two years, which are nothing new: Reduce taxes and energy costs, work on public infrastructure improvements, fight drugs and reduce social service waitlists.

“I look forward to the next two years as a honeymoon compared to the last two years,” said LePage, who has faced everything from a failed impeachment attempt to an ongoing federal lawsuit against him by Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves.

Given LePage’s confrontational history and the Democratic party unified solidly against him, there is no way we’re in for any kind of political honeymoon. All eyes are on the November elections and how they’ll affect the balance of power in the Democrat-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate. LePage said today he is not expecting the situation to improve, at least from Republicans’ perspective.

“I expect to lose the Senate. The lack of action over the past two years, I think that’s going to hurt us,” LePage said in response to a question about whether the controversy surrounding him will hurt legislative Republican candidates at the polls.

It’s likely that LePage won’t help Republicans retain the Senate. He has said repeatedly that he will campaign against Senate Republicans with whom he’s clashed in the past couple of years. In fact, he already helped unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Linda Baker of Topsham by endorsing her opponent, Guy Lebida of Bowdoin, in the primary election for the Sagadahoc County Senate seat. Lebida faces former Democratic Sen. Eloise Vitelli of Arrowsic.

— Christopher Cousins, Bangor Daily News

Gov. Paul LePage to talk to ‘respectful and fair’ talk show hosts, not media

AUGUSTA — Maine GOP Gov. Paul LePage has ruled out talking to the media – except “respectful and fair” talk radio hosts.

LePage told WVOM-FM on Tuesday that although he doesn’t always like the radio hosts’ questions, he thinks they’re “appropriate.”

The governor says he wants to “move on” almost two weeks after leaving a Democratic lawmaker an obscenity-laden voicemail and saying he wished he could challenge the lawmaker to a duel and point a gun at his forehead.

LePage apologized and blamed the media for fueling the controversy. He then vowed to never speak to the media again.

Democrats want LePage to resign, which LePage has ruled out. House members have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to say whether they support a special session to take action on LePage’s conduct.

— The Associated Press

Copy the Story Link