June 13, 201784 votes |
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in this session of the Legislature seem more inclined than ever to override initiatives approved by Maine voters in a statewide election. Whether it's repealing part of the state minimum wage law involving the minimum wage for tipped workers, deciding the fate of ranked choice voting, or nixing the voter-approved 3% surtax on high-earners making more than $200,000 to boost revenues for education, much debate has been given to second-guessing Maine voters who approved those measures. Gov. Paul LePage, likewise, continues to refuse to issue the $15 million bond for senior housing approved by 69% of voters in 2015. A bill to force his hand recently died in the House after failing to get the necessary two-thirds majority needed to override LePage's veto.
So we're curious:
Do you think lawmakers and the governor should not change, or ignore, what voters have approved in a statewide referendum?