Editor Brian Harrod Provides Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, with aggregated news from sources all over the world from the Roundup Newswires Network
Gov. Paul LePage's legacy as Maine's 74th governor will be complex and varied, ranging from his conservative accomplishments to verbal explosions that put Maine in a negative national light. With three of his four terms spent as Democrats held legislative majorities, the Republican governor's veto became the most formidable weapon in his efforts to simultaneously advance his conservative agenda while thwarting liberal and moderate initiatives.
Gov. Paul LePage is leaving office this year with a bang, sponsoring more bills in the 128th Legislature than at any time in his tenure - but that doesn't mean his success is increasing as his administration succumbs to term limits. Since the beginning of the 128th Legislature in December 2016, LePage has sponsored 87 bills, but only 21 of them have made it into law so far - including three that he sponsored but then wouldn't sign, allowing them into law on their own.
It's easy for politicians in Washington, D.C. to make promises to the people, especially when they don't have to deal with real-world consequences. Governors are directly accountable to the people.
State and federal representatives are scrambling to fix the situation, which stemmed from fears over a 12-year-old federal act that critics say would create a national database of personal information. But states are starting to comply with the law because starting this year, federal agencies aren't accepting driver's licenses that don't meet security standards.