AUGUSTA – Legislative leaders are closer to installing metal detectors and screening equipment at the State House, though use would be limited.
A Legislative Council subcommittee voted to use the security equipment, which has been in storage since it was purchased with federal grant money made available after Sept. 11, 2001.
Members of the facilities panel also recommended training Capitol Police to use and maintain the devices, Senate Majority Leader Jon Courtney, R-Sanford, said Thursday during a council meeting.
“However, the equipment would not be deployed for use on a regular or periodic basis,” he said.
The subcommittee also voted to recommend that a threat assessment of the State House and Cross Building be conducted, he said.
The council delayed voting on the security recommendation until its next meeting.
The panel also voted against allowing a bill sponsored by state Sen. Phil Bartlett, D-Gorham, that would have addressed the so-called revolving door between lobbyists and state government.
“This bill seeks to close what I think are glaring loopholes” that allow legislators to immediately register as lobbyists upon leaving office, and lobbyists to be hired directly into executive branch and administration positions, Bartlett said.
Measures submitted after a certain date, known as cloture, must be approved by the council in order to proceed.
“We’ve seen a number of hires and appointments that have raised some concerns,” Bartlett said when asked about the lateness of the proposal.
The LePage administration has recently appointed several former lobbyists to serve in Cabinet and advisory positions.
They include Mary Mayhew, a lobbyist for 11 years with the Maine Hospital Association, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services; Kathleen Newman, a former lobbyist for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine, as a senior policy adviser to the governor; and Patty Aho, a former lobbyist for many groups including chemical and waste management companies, who now serves as a deputy commissioner in the Department of Environmental Protection. All three were registered lobbyists in 2010.
Former lawmakers of both parties are now registered lobbyists as well.
Previous administrations also relied on lobbyists, Bartlett acknowledged.
“I don’t think it’s unique to this administration, … but it had not occurred to me as an issue until some fairly high profile recent appointments,” he said.
The council voted 7 to 1 against allowing the measure.
MaineToday Media State House Writer Rebekah Metzler can be contacted at 620-7016 or at:
rmetzler@mainetoday.com
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