Maine GOP, Democrats meet to discuss governor's conduct

AUGUSTA, Maine — State legislative leaders met Thursday to discuss Republican Gov. Paul LePage's obscene tirade against a Democratic legislator but remained at odds over what to do about it.

Worries about the statewide November election, the future of LePage's reform agenda and what the state constitution has to say about possible punishments for LePage is making it unlikely he would face any legislative punishment anytime soon.

Democrats continued calling for LePage's impeachment or resignation on Thursday, even suggesting Republican state Senate President Michael Thibodeau wouldn't be a bad replacement as governor. Thibodeau said impeachment of LePage is not going to happen.

LePage last week left state Rep. Drew Gattine an obscene voicemail and then said he wished it were the 1820s so they could duel and LePage could point a gun at him. LePage apologized, saying he believed Gattine had called him a racist, which Gattine denies.

Read more: http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20160901/maine-gop-democrats-meet-to-discuss-governors-conduct