After Paul LePage’s press conference today in Portland on “crime,” Maine Democrats are setting the record straight on LePage’s eight-year record of putting Maine people’s safety at risk. While he was Governor, LePage:
- Spent eight years attempting to block efforts to address the opioid crisis, including vetoing bills to lower costs for less addictive opioids and fund treatment centers, forfeiting millions in federal funding for opioid treatment programs, and repeatedly resisting attempts to expand access to the life-saving drug naloxone, which LePage referred to as “fake security for drug addicts”
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Slashed funding for programs that help address domestic violence even as rising rates of domestic violence homicides accounted for nearly half of all Maine homicides at one point during his tenure
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Vetoed legislation to increase protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault
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Tried to fire 60 percent of the state’s child abuse investigators
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“Did everything in his power” to make it difficult for the City of Portland to find housing or shelter for people experiencing homelessness, according to Portland Press Herald columnist Greg Kesich
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Personally threatened violence against journalists, political opponents, and people of color
“From slashing funding for programs that help individuals in domestic violence situations, to obstructing efforts to mitigate homelessness and the opioid crisis, to repeatedly threatening violence against other Mainers, Paul LePage put the safety of Maine people at risk,” said Drew Gattine, Chair of the Maine Democratic Party. “Governor Mills has spent her entire life fighting to make Maine’s communities safer. No amount of scaremongering from Paul LePage can change that.”
Since taking office, Governor Mills has reversed many of LePage’s public safety failures. She’s expanded access to naloxone, invested in curbing homelessness, and restored funding for domestic violence prevention. Under her watch, violent crime in Maine has decreased, according to the most recently available numbers.