AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Governor Paul LePage will deliver his State of the State address Tuesday night. It will be his first such address. Last year, just a month or so after he was sworn into office, the Governor delivered a budget speech.
Democrats decided to get a few rounds in first, so they took the microphone Monday, saying the governor's policies and tough talk aren't helping the state. Democratic leaders from the legislature were backed by dozens of their colleagues at the statehouse. They claim the governor presents a negative image of Maine by the way he speaks, and they say he has been pushing issues that don't help create jobs.
Rep. Emily Cain, the House Democratic leader, slammed LePage for both his policies and his rhetoric, repeatedly calling his statements and proposals "extreme" and saying he was driven by ideology instead of what is best for Maine. Other Democratic leaders in the Legislature repeated the theme - but then also said they want to work with the Governor and Republicans in a bipartisan way.
The Governor's press office turned the accusations back on the Democrats, accusing them of also using "extreme political rhetoric". His spokeswoman said the Governor was focused on finding solutions to the state's problems.
Republican Speaker of the House Robert Nutting defended the Governor, saying he has an "honest, common-sense approach" to solving problems.
The Governor will deliver his State of the State address Tuesday night at 7:00pm to a joint session of the Maine Legislature and a statewide broadcast audience on public television and radio.
NEWS CENTER