LePage fires back, blames Democrats for inaction

[Maine-ah]

Source: BDN

AUGUSTA, Maine — Republican Gov. Paul LePage accused Democratic lawmakers of stymieing work on his reform package and called on his “loyal opposition” to either vote on key issues or offer alternatives.

In a broad-ranging press conference held in the governor’s mansion, a fired-up LePage acknowledged that few, if any, of his administration’s key policy initiatives have emerged from the Republican-controlled Legislature.

He also joked about his habit of making headlines on his own. But in an apparent response to Democrats’ stinging critique on Wednesday of his first 100 days in office, LePage sought to put the blame back on the minority party.

“For the last 64 days, we’ve been sitting around selling newspapers because nothing is coming down from upstairs,” LePage said. “Not because the Republicans aren’t trying. Because what’s happened with the loyal opposition is they say ‘no’ to everything, but they have not put anything on the table.”

Read more: http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/04/14/politics/lepage-fires-back-blames-democrats-for-inaction/

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Democrat's response at link too.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. It's THEIR fault!

What is that word? Chutzpah?

[Drale]

2. I have a feeling that Gov. LePage

crys every night and enjoys cutting himself.

[provis99]

3. what is all the fuss over Maine's "business climate"?

Maine is a relatively well off state. Do they really want a "business-friendly" state like Alabama or Mississippi, where working people get paid very little, and have few working rights?

I don't give a shit if a state is "business-friendly"; I only care if a state is "labor-friendly".

[jpak]

4. The Republican legislature is rebelling against the worst of LePage's teabaggery

Maine Regulatory Reform Compromise Gains Bipartisan Support

http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/16006/Default.aspx

Two months ago Maine environmental groups were voicing strong opposition to what they viewed as an imposing list of environmental laws being targeted for relaxation or repeal by Gov. Paul LePage. The administration had included more than 60 potential reforms needed to improve Maine's business climate. But after hours of listening sessions and public hearings, business and environmental groups reached consensus on a new and modified version of the regulatory reform package--and it appears to have strong bipartisan support.

LD 1 no longer contains a proposal to eliminate and replace the citizen-run Board of Environmental Protection with a panel of administrative law judges. It no longer proposes to rezone 30 percent of Maine's unorganized territories for development, to repeal the Informed Growth Act or impose a statute of limitations for environmental violators.

But what it does do, says Senate Republican Leader Jon Courtney, is make a down payment on regulatory reform. "It's changing the culture of state government so that the number one priority is job creation, so we can give more people an opportunity to earn a living and stay in Maine," he says.

Included in the revamped bill is a proposal to put a small business advocate in the Office of the Secretary of State to assist small businesses that are having trouble dealing with state agencies.

<more>

They know damned well they would have received a People's Veto smackdown if they passed LePage's teabagger agenda

yup

[and-justice-for-all]

5. LIAR!

He only says that because Dems did not fully submit to their bidding and give them everything they wanted...some call a wambulance for that asshole, oh what, that is Socialism so scratch that.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. His party has the Blaine House and both chambers. He doesn't need _any_ Dem votes to

get what he wants. The only people standing in his way are sensible-minded members of his own party who are trying to put the brakes on his nonsense. And thank God for them!

[Downwinder]

7. He is too worried about the art work to get the job done.