Lawmakers Looking at Novel Way to Punish Maine Governor

By MARINA VILLENEUVE, ASSOCIATED PRESS AUGUSTA, Maine — Sep 7, 2016, 12:30 PM ET

Lawmakers critical of Republican Gov. Paul LePage are looking at a novel way to punish him after efforts to convene a special session fell flat.

They are asking Democratic Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap to invoke a never-before-used constitutional clause to report to the state supreme court that the governor is unfit because of "temporary mental or physical disability."

"It takes it out of the hands of the legislature, which is totally partisan and gridlocked right now, and puts it in hands of nonpartisan professionals," said independent Rep. Jeffrey Evangelos, who is among the lawmakers petitioning Dunlap.

Critics want to punish LePage for recently threatening a Democratic lawmaker and blaming blacks and Hispanics for fueling the opioid epidemic. LePage said he heard the lawmaker called him a racist, something the lawmaker denies.

LePage has apologized for threatening the lawmaker and said he is seeking "spiritual guidance."

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