Gov. Paul LePage skipping State of the State speech

ME lawmakers are expected to debate an impeachment order against Gov. Paul LePage Thursday over allegations of abuse of power.

An impeachment order, which was viewed as a longshot, would have been be unprecedented.

A spokeswoman for the governor declined to comment, calling the claims “frivolous”.

The Maine House of Representatives has approved a measure reauthorizing $6.5 million in voter-approved conservation bonds that had become politicized under Gov. Paul LePage.

LePage said he felt Eves was unqualified and had been offered the job as a political favor.

The Associated Press reported that the proposal “faces long odds” because it “wouldn’t likely survive long as it would eventually go to the Republican-controlled Senate”.

A group of lawmakers led by Democratic Rep. Ben Chipman of Portland submitted the impeachment order, which came up for debate on the House floor.

Another Republican senator, Thomas Saviello, of Wilton, said he doesn’t like the governor’s abrasive approach but considers impeachment “an exercise in futility”. Chipman says the proceedings are about holding the governor accountable.

LePage has said he did nothing wrong, and that the attacks on him amount to a “witch hunt”.

LePage’s foes wanted to look into a number of allegations that they say shows a pattern of bullying and abuse, including that he forced out the president of the Maine Community College System, refused to allow administration officials to testify in front of committees and involved himself in the internal workings of the unemployment compensation board.

“We have a broad pattern of abuse of power”, Independent Rep. Jeff Evangelos told WGME.

House Democratic leader Rep. Jeff McCabe said he is surprised that LePage would give up the opportunity to address the state.

Even if the House were to impeach him, the effort would probably fail in the GOP-controlled Senate, where a two-thirds majority would be needed to convict. “That’s just silliness… I’ll send them a letter and we’ll call it a day”.

In August, LePage made national news for saying that he’d resign from office, if enough people ask him to, and following those remarks, Mainers responded.

State House Speaker Mark Eves (D), who is the one suing LePage over his lost job, said the governor would be doing the people of ME a disservice by skipping his speech.