This week in statehouse action: Legisocalypse Now edition

It’s the end of the session as we know it, and I feel fine.

Actually, I feel great. I get to kick off my inaugural TWISA at Daily Kos with an apocalyptic theme. Because DOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

*by which I mean multiple state governments are in legislative standoffs that threaten to shut their states right down.

Let’s start with Maine, since it’s facing the most absurd and unnecessary governor situation.

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• The Democratic-majority House and Republican-majority Senate have been working nonstop in recent days to arrive at a state budget agreement that can not only pass both chambers of the state’s divided government, but also meets an apparently arbitrary ceiling of $7.055 billion set by GOP Gov. Paul LePage, the Eric Cartman of statehouse politics.
  • LePage colluded with the House Republican minority to push a budget that dramatically cuts education funding and slashes assistance programs for the poor while giving massive new tax breaks to the wealthiest two percent of Mainers.

Fun fact! State budget bills in Maine have to win two-thirds majorities in both legislative chambers. Bipartisanship or bust!

• Both chambers must pass the budget with supermajorities and Gov. LePage must act on it by 11:59 PM  on Friday, June 30, or the state’s government will shut down for the first time since 1991.
  • But even if lawmakers deliver the budget in advance of the deadline, LePage might just let the state shut down anyway. 

Funner fact! Maine governors can take up to 10 days after a bill passes both legislative chambers to mull a veto or sign the measure into law.

• And LePage reportedly has pledged to wait as long as possible to sign the budget and let the government shut down out of spite (actual quote: “A shutdown is necessary for the future of Maine”) if he doesn’t get everything he wants, nevermind that
  • Non-emergency state services will shut down
  • Non-emergency state workers will never get paid for the time they’re forced to not work because of the shutdown
  • Emergency workers will still work but won’t get paid for that work until after the shutdown is over.

But whateva, LePage does what he wants.

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