Last week, Maine Republicans made it clear that their repeated calls to reconvene the Legislature were just a political stunt when they refused to even weigh in on a proposal by Senate President Troy Jackson and House Speaker Sara Gideon to complete unfinished business and address issues that have arisen amid this public health crisis. 

When given the opportunity to continue the work they’ve claimed the Legislature must address, Republicans instead chose to block the Legislature from mitigating the damage from the pandemic. But attempts to score cheap political points aren’t working and Republicans’ refusal to do their jobs are now on full display.

Read more here:

 

Portland Press Herald: Republicans’ demands keep lawmakers sidelines, with hundreds of bills in limbo

By Scott Thistle

July 16, 2020

Key Points:

  • Republican lawmakers are refusing to cooperate with a Democratic effort to call the Legislature back into a special session to complete unfinished business and take up measures that would enhance state government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

  • The Legislature, which adjourned in mid-March just before the pandemic’s onset in Maine, has hundreds of unfinished bills sitting in limbo. Democrats also say they want to pass new bills aimed at problems or concerns that have developed as a result of the pandemic.

 

  • The two Black lawmakers in the Legislature also have been urging their colleagues to act quickly on bills that address systemic racism in Maine and other racial inequities, including the state’s racial disparity in coronavirus infection rates – the largest in the U.S.

 

  • Gideon said the Democratic caucus is willing and ready to return to work [...] Gideon said state lawmakers are uniquely positioned to understand the deep impacts the pandemic is having on individuals, families and businesses.

 

  • Jackson, the Senate president, said Mainers are looking to the Legislature for more help and lawmakers should get back to work now while the infection rate is declining, before a possible surge from the virus, along with the upcoming flu season, sets the state back again in the fall.

 

  • “Back in March, all four legislative leaders put aside partisan politics and came together for the good of the state, recognizing the severity of this crisis and the leadership the moment required. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t do the same today,” the Democrat from Allagash said.

 

  • Jackson also threw a jab at Collins on Twitter over her campaign’s prior criticisms of Gideon and the Legislature for not getting back to work sooner. “I’ve remained silent while you attacked us for not reconvening the Legislature,” he tweeted, pointing to a Collins tweet criticizing Gideon. “Today, Republicans refused to let us finish our work in Augusta. I hope you take down tweets like this and instead tell Legislative Republicans to do their jobs.”

 

News Center Maine: Republicans in Maine Legislature refuse to participate in poll to determine special session

By Griffin Stockford, Gabrielle Mannino

July 16, 2020

Key Points:

  • Democratic leaders say Republicans have been calling to reconvene the legislature for months and say it's difficult to take them seriously after they chose not to participate in the poll.

 

  • “For months, Republican lawmakers have vocally called for the legislature to reconvene in public statements, letters and press conferences," Jackson said. "However, it turns out that this was all talk. When it came time to actually decide whether to go back into session or not, Republicans refused to even weigh in. When speaking up could have actually made a difference, they remained silent."

 

  • Gideon said the potential legislative session will address some of the top priorities that address the needs of Mainers as the state works to bolster economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

  • “This will include public school readiness, help with housing and nutrition needs, aid to small businesses and the tourism economy, adequate childcare, access to rural healthcare, utilizing federal funding, and more,” Gideon said.

 

WABI: Republicans refuse to participate in poll to reconvene Legislature, special session rejected

By Brianna Bires

July 16, 2020

Key Points:

  • After months of calling for the Maine Legislature to reconvene, a majority of Republican lawmakers rejected the idea Thursday

 

  • The Maine Legislature requires a majority of members from both parties to agree to a special session.

 

  • Most of the Republicans did not participate in a poll on the matter. 109 Democrats voted yes. One Republican voted yes and two voted no. There were 67 no responses from Republicans.

 

  • Gideon and Jackson blasted Republicans for demanding a special session, then denying one.

 

AP: Republicans Stall Efforts to Reconvene Maine Legislature

By David Sharp

July 16, 2020

Key Points:

  • Refusal of Republicans to respond to a survey sent out by Senate President Troy Jackson and House Speaker Sara Gideon, both Democrats, puts the kibosh on a special session because the Maine Constitution requires the approval of a majority of lawmakers from each party.

 

  • Jackson and Gideon blasted Republicans for balking after demanding that lawmakers reconvene. Jackson said that low coronavirus infection rates have provided "a window to reconvene.”

 

  • “It is increasingly difficult to take my Republican colleagues’ repeated demands of reconvening the Legislature seriously when they have just refused to vote to take that very action,” said Gideon, of Freeport.

###