Discussion: Maine Supreme Court Sets Date For Veto Showdown Between LePage And Lawmakers

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Discussion for article #238587

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Why do I think that some LePage staffer is waking up at 3:00 am in a cold sweat, with some regularity?

Someone must have told LePage he could do this - someone who doesn’t know squat about the laws of the State of Maine.

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What is the makeup of the Maine Supreme Court? Majority conservative? If so, they’ll find a way to save his bacon.

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The Court should be able to make a ruling on this without briefs – Jeeez – Or is there a certain protocol for this ??

( not a lawyer )

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According to wikipedia, the seven members of the court consists of 2 LePage appointees, 3 from Gov. Baldacci (a Democrat), and 2 by Angus King (who knows what he is from day to day). It’s rather hard to say how this would shake out due to the wildcard of Angus King appointees.

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Looking from afar, I’d be more confident than that. Near the end of the actual piece it says this:

When lawmakers reconvened last Thursday, he attempted to return the legislation, 65 bills in all, only to be refused by the leaders of the Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate who said the bills had become law. [my emphasis]

So there are at least some senior, reasonable Republicans who believe the laws are valid. That gives the judges plenty of wriggle-room to say that the laws are valid even if they are La Page appointees. Depends if the judges consider themselves primarily (1) Tea-Partiers (2) Republicans or (3) Independent Law-interpreters.

As long as they feel (2) or (3) is more important, then even the La Page appointees might agree with the Assembly rather than the Governor.

This isn’t a straight Dem V Rep battle. There’s plenty of Reps who think La Page has botched this too.

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I think LePage should run for Potus. There is still time to get in before the first debate.

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I always thought a Christie/LePage ticket would be a match made in Wingnut Heaven. Who better than to take on the ‘bully’ pulpit X’s 2. Their campaign slogan could be “Two bullies for the price of one!”.

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It’s not just LePage. The problem is with Republican governance. Either they’re overly ideological, have no interest in truly governing for ALL the people, or believe in ludicrous concepts like nullification. This time it’s Maine, but look at Kansas, Wisconsin, Florida, Indiana…

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