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Lawmakers reject 65 veto messages from Gov. LePage

Legislative leaders say governor waited too long to veto bills

Legislature
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Legislature
SOURCE: WMTW Image
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Lawmakers reject 65 veto messages from Gov. LePage
Legislative leaders say governor waited too long to veto bills
Lawmakers in Augusta are wrapping up their work for the current legislative sessions but not before dealing a blow to Gov. Paul LePage.LePage sent 65 veto messages to the Legislature on Thursday, but both the Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate told him the vetoes were too late.Democrats and some Republicans said the governor waited too long to act on the bills, which cover health care, immigrants, jobs, schools and veterans.However, the LePage administration contents that earlier this month, the Legislature adjourned in a way that it bought him more time."They were ready. They've been ready for a while, most of them. There was only a few that were finished last night. They were all done. We sent them up. The questions should all be answered. They weren't here to receive them. The minute they were here, we sent them up," LePage said.Neither the House nor the Senate took up the governor's veto messages."I don't think we're in a position where we can take action on them, because the Legislature believes that the 10 days has expired," Senate President Mike Thibodeau said."They relate to bills that needed to be vetoed last week. We didn't receive until today. We received them with today's date, so they're actually not before the body at this time," House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe said.House Minority Leader Ken Fredette is one of the few allies the governor has in the State House regarding the bills in limbo."To simply not act upon them and not provide a rationale to House members, I think, is irresponsible," Fredette said.LePage did get a win when House Republicans helped kill a bill that would have significantly stripped the governor's power related to bonds.

Lawmakers in Augusta are wrapping up their work for the current legislative sessions but not before dealing a blow to Gov. Paul LePage.

LePage sent 65 veto messages to the Legislature on Thursday, but both the Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate told him the vetoes were too late.

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Democrats and some Republicans said the governor waited too long to act on the bills, which cover health care, immigrants, jobs, schools and veterans.

However, the LePage administration contents that earlier this month, the Legislature adjourned in a way that it bought him more time.

"They were ready. They've been ready for a while, most of them. There was only a few that were finished last night. They were all done. We sent them up. The questions should all be answered. They weren't here to receive them. The minute they were here, we sent them up," LePage said.

Neither the House nor the Senate took up the governor's veto messages.

"I don't think we're in a position where we can take action on them, because the Legislature believes that the 10 days has expired," Senate President Mike Thibodeau said.

"They relate to bills that needed to be vetoed last week. We didn't receive until today. We received them with today's date, so they're actually not before the body at this time," House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe said.

House Minority Leader Ken Fredette is one of the few allies the governor has in the State House regarding the bills in limbo.

"To simply not act upon them and not provide a rationale to House members, I think, is irresponsible," Fredette said.

LePage did get a win when House Republicans helped kill a bill that would have significantly stripped the governor's power related to bonds.