Legislators take dim view of Guard threat after meeting with LePage staff

[jpak]

Source: Bangor Daily News

AUGUSTA, Maine — After a meeting with administration officials on Friday, Maine legislative leaders looked unlikely to acquiesce to Gov. Paul LePage’s demand for more funding to hire drug agents or else he would activate the National Guard to deal with the state’s drug crisis.

House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, said a special session before Dec. 10 — the day that LePage has said he would call out the Guard if funding isn’t on its way — is unlikely. He said legislators are coming up with a “comprehensive approach” that includes increased law enforcement and treatment options.

The meeting followed a Thursday series of votes by legislative leaders to send bills aimed at addressing drugs to the full Legislature in January. Those included proposals that would increase drug education in schools and reimburse rates for methadone treatment, as well as increase penalties for drug trafficking.

“This is not time for politics and political theater, it’s time to focus on solutions,” Eves said.

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Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2015/11/20/politics/maine-legislators-take-dim-view-of-national-guard-threat-after-meeting-with-lepage-staff/

[gregcrawford]

1. If LePlague...

... isn't dealt with soon, he will do to Maine what Brownback has done to Kansas. We don't need two more failed states.

[keithbvadu2]

2. Call his bluff? Absolutely!

Let him activate.

Exactly what would he have them do?

[riversedge]

3. LePage is a creep. simple as that