Post by Logan on Feb 11, 2016 19:32:48 GMT -6
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage vowed Thursday to take over some responsibilities of the state education commissioner rather than subject his nominee to political scrutiny, causing confusion and consternation at the State House.
LePage began the day by telling the crowd at a Lewiston business breakfast that he planned to transition acting education commissioner Bill Beardsley into the role of deputy commissioner because legislative Democrats would not give Beardsley a fair hearing to serve as Maine’s top education official. LePage withdrew Beardsley as his nominee on Tuesday.
But LePage’s added statement Thursday that “I will be commissioner” elicited criticism from the teacher’s union and Democratic lawmakers who saw it as an attempt to side-step the confirmation process for an important, high-profile Cabinet position.
Speaking to reporters several hours later, LePage clarified that he did not plan to renominate Beardsley, at least until a new Legislature is seated next year but that he, as governor, would assume any official duties that can only be performed by a commissioner.
Read more: www.pressherald.com/2016/02/11/lepage-tells-crowd-he-will-serve-as-education-commissioner/
LePage began the day by telling the crowd at a Lewiston business breakfast that he planned to transition acting education commissioner Bill Beardsley into the role of deputy commissioner because legislative Democrats would not give Beardsley a fair hearing to serve as Maine’s top education official. LePage withdrew Beardsley as his nominee on Tuesday.
But LePage’s added statement Thursday that “I will be commissioner” elicited criticism from the teacher’s union and Democratic lawmakers who saw it as an attempt to side-step the confirmation process for an important, high-profile Cabinet position.
Speaking to reporters several hours later, LePage clarified that he did not plan to renominate Beardsley, at least until a new Legislature is seated next year but that he, as governor, would assume any official duties that can only be performed by a commissioner.
Read more: www.pressherald.com/2016/02/11/lepage-tells-crowd-he-will-serve-as-education-commissioner/