Maine Progressives Mobilize to Derail LePage Agenda

[jpak]

http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNewsArchive/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3475/ItemId/15023/Default.aspx

In Maine, if at least 60,000 people don't like a piece of legislation that comes out of Augusta, there's something they can do about it. It's called the people's veto. And since 1909, citizens have used this amendment to the Maine Constitution to halt a bill's journey into law and send it, instead, to the ballot box for a vote of the people. Now, one opponent of Gov. Paul LePage's agenda hopes to derail it by using the people's veto in a new way.

<snip>

It's called the people's veto. Let's say the Legislature passes a bill and you think it stinks. Well, the Maine Constitution gives you 90 days--from the moment the Legislature goes into recess---to collect 66,000 signatures. If you succeed, the bill's journey into law stops and the legislation goes before the voters in the form of a ballot referendum.

Typically, Maine voters have used the people's veto to throw out laws one at a time, such as recent referenda overturning a tax cut and outlawing gay marriage.

"I've never seen an effort against multiple legislation," Schlick says. But if he's able to build an organization with some heft, that's exactly what he's looking at doing. And he's not alone.

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[luckyleftyme2]

1. LE PAGE IS HELPING HIM

AFTER THAT BIT ABOUT EMPLOYEES PENSIONS AND NO HELP TO SAVE THE PAPER INDUSTRY IN MILLINOCKETT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO GET 66,000 SIGNATURES!

[luckyleftyme2]

2. HOW ABOUT A RECALL

I THINK SOME OF THESE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICALS MAY RUN INTO RECALL VOTES!