House lawmakers spar over censured representative's right to speak on final day
Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) asks to read her unrecorded votes into the record.
On the final day of the Maine Legislature, Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives held one final argument over the rights of censured lawmaker Rep. Laurel Libby, debating over her request to read unrecorded votes into the record.
The Auburn Republican had been barred from voting or speaking on the chamber floor in late February for posting a transgender student's personal information on her legislative Facebook page. She petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for relief after the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied her motion for an expedited appeal to end the censure, which she argued disenfranchised her constituents. In May, the court granted an injunction restoring her right to vote and speak on the House floor.
Citing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision, Libby sought unanimous consent from her colleagues to read into the record those that she would have taken during the term of her censure. Some Democratic representatives objected, sparking a heated debate about civility, legislative process, and constitutional rights. Despite initial objections, she was ultimately allowed to speak after a 106-34 vote.
The debate over letting her speak highlighted some of the ongoing tensions within the chamber, with Republicans representatives blaming the Democratic majority for silencing Libby.
'This is an example of raw political power, one party exerting control over another … and not letting one of one of the minority members speak,' said Rep. Joseph Underwood (R-Presque Isle).
Rep. Richard Campbell, a Republican from Orrington, said in his 32 years serving in and out of the state legislature, 'what I've observed in this first regular session of 132nd is the worst I've ever seen.'
However, Rep. Christina Mitchell (D-Cumberland) pushed back, pointing out that Libby always had the opportunity to apologize for her action, which would have ended the censure.
'A precedent was set before in this house when a choice was made not to apologize,' she said.
Others questioned whether there was any difference in speaking votes out loud or more formally having them documented on the record. House Speaker Ryan Fecteau replied that there wasn't, because everything that now happens in the chamber is documented via video and archived.
'The request is more so a formality than anything else at this point,' he said.
After the vote, Libby proceeded to read hundreds of votes on bills into the record, speaking for more than 20 minutes.
When she started speaking, some Democrats left the chamber. Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) who co-chairs the Llabor Committee on which Libby serves, said the representative has had the ability to vote on bills in committee meetings while censured, but has rarely shown up, even in instances where her vote could have changed the outcome of bills.
'She was too busy telling the media how she was being silenced to actually use her voice and her vote on the work her constituents elected her to do,' Roeder told Maine Morning Star.
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