April 05, 2011 02:10 AM UTC

GOP Lawmakers to GOP Governor: Quit Being a Dick

• 9 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

There’s an interesting editorial today in Maine’s Portland Press Herald in which 8 Republican state senators tell Republican Gov. Paul LePage, essentially, to stop being such a divisive jerk:

We ran for office as proud Republicans, inspired and energized by the campaign themes of the governor to make Maine a more business-friendly state and attract the capital investment we need to create jobs and ensure that our children and grandchildren will have the kind of opportunity and prosperity we all want for them.

We should be focused like a laser on the agenda the governor laid out – reducing our tax burden, getting rid of unnecessary government regulation that stifles innovation and entrepreneurship, and putting into place thoughtful welfare reform.

Instead, we find ourselves continually diverted, responding to yet another example of our chief executive picking a personal fight not worth fighting. “Government by disrespect” should have no place in Augusta, and when it happens, we should all reject it.

We haven’t followed the goings-on in Maine, but apparently LePage has been a gigantic pain in the ass by picking petty, silly fights over things like removing long-standing murals from the Capitol. We thought it extraordinary that lawmakers would openly criticize a Governor in their own party in such a public manner, and we’re not alone. As The Huffington Post reports:

Chris Hall, a lobbyist for the Portland Regional Chamber, told The Portland Press Herald that in his 21-year career, he has never seen a group of legislators write such an openly critical opinion piece of a governor who is a member of their own party. “This is extraordinary,” Hall said.

Indeed, and bravo to the 8 GOP Senators for speaking out.