He made decisions, and he wanted them implemented. Except that's not the way it works at the State House.
At first, Republican legislative leadership figured LePage could be educated. They tried to explain how the state Constitution gave them power equal to that of the executive branch. He could propose anything he liked, they said, but the House and Senate had the option of making all the changes to his plans their little hearts desired.
The new governor wasn't receptive to this lesson in representative democracy. He wanted to run government like a business, one in which the CEO's word is unchallenged. And of course, there are governments like that.
In Iran. In North Korea. In China. And, until recently, in Libya.
Rather than adjusting his worldview to reality, LePage has persisted in trying to impose his dictatorial approach on a system designed to keep power diffuse. Relations with the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate have become strained. The governor has been warned by GOP legislators on more than one occasion to shut his pie hole, particularly in public. In return, they've agreed not to embarrass him by overriding his pointless vetoes or openly criticizing his poorly designed proposals.
But they also put the boss man on notice.
Stop acting like he's running a business.
It remains to be seen if LePage ever gets the message or if he'll be posting a sign in 2014 that reads "Going Out Of Business."
If you notice any monkey business, e-mail me at aldiamon@herniahill.net.
