The governor is certainly very good at making the headlines and lobbing criticism at everyone else. But, to really understand what’s going on in Augusta, it’s worthwhile to read beyond the headlines.
While Gov. LePage is busy holding press conferences with Christmas trees and squeaking plastic pigs, lawmakers have been busy working and delivering results for the betterment of Maine people.
Most lawmakers would agree that they chose public service so that they could pass good policy and help our state. Certainly, as Democrats or Republicans, our party affiliation helps direct our policy priorities, but it is not the only lens through which we do our work.
As a member of the state’s Appropriations Committee, I can tell you that we have to work together in order to find areas of agreement and compromise. As lawmakers, that is our job ”“ it is what is expected ”“ and, it’s what the people of Maine deserve.
In the face of our bipartisan accomplishments this session, Gov. LePage continues his attempts to undermine and unravel our work through the use of his veto pen ”“ vetoing more than 125 bills, just since January. His vetoes, however, are not based on the merits of the bills, but instead based on his pledge to punish all lawmakers who don’t support his agenda. He even specifically called out Democrats and said that any bill that is sponsored by a Democrat will automatically be vetoed. And, true to his word, Gov. LePage has followed through and vetoed every bill with a “D” next to the sponsor’s name. How does that help Maine people?
Other times, it’s hard to know why the governor has vetoed a bill. Instead, he uses this opportunity to spew out sarcastic and inaccurate rhetoric.
For example, he vetoed Republican Senator Ron Collins’ bill to create license plates recognizing the centennial of the United States Navy Reserve. The cost? Less than $5,000. This bill passed unanimously out of committee and under unanimous consent in both the House and the Senate.
At this point, in a divided government where the Democrats hold a majority in the House and the Republicans hold a majority in the Senate, if a bill reaches the governor’s desk, it has done so with a bipartisan stamp of approval. It is certainly well within the governor’s authority to exercise his veto power. But is this a good use of it? Is this what the people of Maine want: a governor who will veto bills “just because?”
I am proud that Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature have seen through Gov. LePage’s politically driven stunts and have stuck together to override nearly every veto the governor has sent our way. Every time we override a partisan veto from the governor, we are rejecting his political gamesmanship in favor of doing the business that the people of Maine elected us to do.
We all deserve a government that works ”“ one that can tackle tough issues and find common ground. The governor’s approach of governing by veto is no way to govern and I’m confident that my colleagues and I will continue to reject these antics.
— Sen. Linda Valentino (D) of Saco, represents Senate District 31.
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