By Mal Leary, MPBN
MPBN news story
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage says he has vetoed a measure he submitted last week that would have extended authorization of $6.5 million in Land for Maine’s Future bonds by seven months.
But the version of the bill ultimately passed by lawmakers was a resolve directing LePage to issue the bonds immediately.
“I sent the bill up, they changed it, which is a silly thing,” LePage said. “Because they have turned, I don’t have to do anything until January and they expire Nov. 10. How silly was that bill?”
House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe, a Democrat from Skowhegan, authored the amendment to the governor’s bill. He said he is not surprised at the veto.
McCabe says if the governor would do his job and sign off on the voter-approved bonds in a timely manner, there would not need to be legislation re-authorizing the bonds.
McCabe says there will certainly be new legislation in January re-authorizing the bonds and making sure they are sold.
“I have already begun to work with Republicans and other Democrats as well to really continue to move this issue forward,” McCabe said. “Whether it is the extension of the bonds — which there is a number of bills that have already been submitted to extend the bonds — as well as folks that want to make it clear that it is time to release the Land For Maine’s Future bonds.”
