Twelve new vetoes by LePage include 10 bills sponsored by Democrats

Gov. Paul LePage, R-Maine. BDN file photo by Ashley Conti.

Gov. Paul LePage, R-Maine. BDN file photo by Ashley Conti.

A dozen new vetoes issued Friday evening by Gov. Paul LePage included 10 sponsored by Democrats, nine of which he explained with his now-familiar form letter excoriating all legislative Democrats.

On May 29, LePage announced that he would veto all Democratic bills because of their opposition to his plan for a referendum asking Mainers if they want to change the Maine Constitution to eliminate the state’s income tax. LePage’s bill to do so has failed so far to attain the two-thirds support it needs.

LePage has already vetoed 10 bills sponsored by Democrats, nine of which have been overturned by the Legislature in lopsided votes against the governor.

The following are the 12 bills vetoed on Friday, which include two by Republican senators who have opposed some portions of LePage’s biennial budget proposal.

  • LD 294, An Act To Allow a Home Heating Oil Delivery Driver To Bleed a Home Heating Oil Burner (Sponsored by Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham)
  • LD 814, An Act To Update the Maine Veterinary Practice Act (Sponsored by Sen. James Dill, D-Old Town)
  • LD 537, An Act To Prohibit Standardized Testing of Children before the Third Grade (Sponsored by Rep. Matthea Daughtry, D-Brunswick)
  • LD 511, An Act To Permit a Licensed Sales Representative To Provide Spirits at an Approved Tasting Event (Sponsored by Rep. Sara Gideon, D-Freeport)
  • LD 483, An Act Regarding the Reporting Standards for Child Abuse (Sponsored by Rep. Dillon Bates, D-Westbrook)
  • LD 1222, An Act To Remove Barriers to School Construction Financing in Regional School Units (Sponsored by Rep. Christopher Babbidge, D-Kennebunk)
  • LD 1347, An Act To Implement Recommendations of the Government Oversight Committee To Clarify That Competitive Bid Provisions Apply to Grant Awards (Introducer: Rep. Chuck Kruger, D-Thomaston)
  • LD 844, An Act To Improve Transit Services Statewide (Sponsored by Rep. Andrew McLean, D-Gorham)
  • LD 1259, An Act To Increase Consumer Protections (Sponsored by Rep. Matthew Moonen, D-Portland)
  • LD 660, An Act To Protect Homeowners from Damage in the Event of a Failure of Public Water Systems (Sponsored by Rep. Jennifer DeChant, D-Bath)
  • LD 849, An Act To Protect Young Bucks – By Request (Sponsored by Sen. David Burns, R-Whiting)
  • LD 856, An Act To Amend the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program To Allow for Participation in Early College and Career and Technical Education Programs (Sponsored by Sen. Brian Langley, R-Ellsworth) – LePage line-item vetoed funding for the program and flat-funded it, explaining in his veto letter that he would re-evaluate the scholarship program after one year.

The Legislature will likely take up veto override votes next week.

 

Christopher Cousins

About Christopher Cousins

Christopher Cousins has worked as a journalist in Maine for more than 15 years and covered state government for numerous media organizations before joining the Bangor Daily News in 2009.