Governor Urges Union to Stop Spreading Fear about Government Shutdown

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For Immediate Release: Monday, May 13

Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary (207) 287-2531

Governor Urges Union to Stop Spreading Fear about Government Shutdown

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage met this morning with representatives of the Maine State Employees Association (MSEA) to demand that the union stop spreading fear and misinformation about the Governor calling for state government shutdown.

“You are lying,” the Governor told Tim Belcher, general counsel for MSEA. “I, as the Chief Executive of the State, have had no plan to shut down state government. It did not come from the executive branch. Why are you scaring people?”

The MSEA stated in a letter dated May 6 that “executive branch departments and agencies were directed to “prepare plans for an inevitable shut down of all non-essential functions of state government for the month of July.”  

In addition to making the unfounded claim in its letter, the MSEA’s website states it has “Credible reports that the LePage administration has directed state agencies to prepare for a shutdown.”

“This has been manufactured by the MSEA,” the Governor told Belcher. “It did not come from the executive branch.”

Governor LePage told Belcher and union representatives that he has sent a balanced budget that will not raise taxes to the Legislature. He said he has no plans to shut down state government.

“If the legislature chooses not to pass my budget, then you folks need to sit down with them and get a plan together,” the Governor told Belcher.

To view all correspondence between MSEA and the Governor click the attachments.