The Impeachment Order is below. It will be on this Thursday's (Jan 14th) calendar. There are 9 sponsors, the full complement. The House Clerk said it would be read into the official record on Thursday and then Rep. Chipman will speak to his order. Then debate and/or procedural motions will follow. We plan on an official roll call on every motion. Despite the spin being put out by some politicians in Augusta that this would never reach the floor, those assertions are false. There is nothing that anyone can do to stop this process. We followed the law and the Constitution.
Sponsor: Rep Ben Chipman, Co-sponsors: Representatives Jeffrey Evangelos, Charlotte M. Warren, Roberta Beavers, Deane Rykerson, Lydia C. Blume, Robert Saucier, Anne "Pinny" Beebe-Center, Chris Babbidge.
My statement regarding Governor LePage's conduct:
“The Governor's remarks unmask what many of us already knew about his racist and xenophobic tendencies, his class war against poor people of all colors, and his vindictiveness toward immigrants based on color and religion. Clearly, more than ever, the need to hold this Governor accountable to the rule of law is upon us. Next Thursday, January 14th, Rep. Chipman and 8 other legislators will be introducing the HouseImpeachment Order on the floor of the House of Representatives. As Dr. King said in 1967, to be silent is to be complicit, acquiescence is not a strategy or an option. The rise of right wing extremism, xenophobia, and racism in our country is reminiscent of Europe in the 1930s, when fascism and hate ruled the day. I will not remain silent in the face of this, nor will I make any concessions to political calculations as some of our leaders are doing in Augusta. We all need to follow President Lincoln's example, do the right and ethical thing and TRUST that the people will follow. I trust the people. Holding LePage accountable represents the politics of courage versus the politics of fear. And as President Roosevelt said, we have nothing to fear.”
Jeffrey Evangelos
STATE OF MAINE
In House__________
WHEREAS, the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 5 provides that every person holding any civil office under this State may be removed by impeachment for misdemeanor in office; and
WHEREAS, the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part First, Section 8 vests in the House of Representatives the sole power of impeachment;
WHEREAS, grave and serious allegations have been raised regarding the conduct of Governor Paul R. LePage; now, therefore, be it
ORDERED, that the House Special Investigative Committee is established to investigate allegations of misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance and other misconduct by Governor Paul R. LePage, and to make a recommendation to the full House of Representatives as to whether cause exists for impeachment. The committee shall conduct a comprehensive review of allegations of misconduct by Governor LePage, including but not limited to the:
A. Refusal, beginning in 2012, to facilitate the issuance of land conservation bonds that were ratified by the voters of the State in statewide elections held in November 2010 and November 2012, and the Governor’s repeated insistence on extracting compliance from the Legislature on unrelated issues prior to his carrying out the will of the people of the State regarding issuance of the bonds;
B. Alleged use of state assets as leverage to bring about the resignation in 2013 of the President of the World Acadian Congress, Jason Parent;
C. Exertion of pressure, in March 2013, on hearing officers in the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation of the Maine Department of Labor to favor employers in their decision-making;
D. Refusal, beginning in May 2013, to allow cabinet members and members of the administration to appear and testify before legislative committees;
E. Alleged use of state assets as leverage to bring about the resignation in January 2015 of the Maine Community College System President, John Fitzsimmons;
F. Requesting, in February 2015, that the Maine Human Rights Commission postpone a proceeding against a particular business pending before the commission and threatening to withhold state assets when the commission declined to postpone the proceeding;
G. Creation in April 2015, without public notice in violation of the Maine Freedom of Access Act, of a panel to conduct a review of the Maine Human Rights Commission; and
H. Alleged use of state assets as leverage to intimidate the Board of Directors of Good Will-Hinckley in June 2015 into terminating its employment of Mark W. Eves, the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and be it further
ORDERED, that the House Special Investigative Committee consists of 13 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Speaker’s designee, 6 of whom are appointed by the Speaker upon the recommendation of the House Minority Leader; and that the first-named member is the chair; and be it further
ORDERED, that the House Special Investigative Committee:
1. Shall adopt rules to govern the proceedings before it in order to ensure due process, fundamental fairness and a thorough investigation;
2. May administer oaths and compel the attendance and testimony of persons and the production of papers, documents and other evidence under oath, by subpoena, when the testimony, documents or evidence is necessary for or incident to any inquiry relevant to the business or purposes of the committee, and punish any person for the neglect, refusal to appear or failure to produce papers or documents or provide evidence commanded by subpoena or who upon appearance, either with or without subpoena, refuses to be sworn or testify or produce papers, documents or evidence demanded;
3. May hire special counsel and such other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the committee’s responsibilities; and
4. Following its review and investigation of the facts and circumstances relating to the alleged misconduct of Governor Paul R. LePage, shall submit to the House of Representatives, no later than April 1, 2016, its findings and recommendations in the form of a final report, including, if the committee concludes such action is warranted, articles ofimpeachment describing the misdemeanors in office with which Governor Paul R. LePage is charged. The committee may request from the Speaker, or the Speaker’s designee, extensions of time to complete its work.
SPONSORED BY: ______________________________
(Representative CHIPMAN)
TOWN: Portland
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