Letters to the Editor

 

Dear Citizens,

I submitted bill LD 383 which was left tabled Monday, pending questions to be answered by the Maine Supreme Court. The questions address activities currently in play regarding the departments of the executive branch and the perpetuation of government growth and self-interest.

Mostly this refers to employees of executive branch departments influencing or serving in the legislative branch. The questions follow.

ORDERED, that in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Maine, the House of Representatives respectfully requests the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court to give the House of Representatives/Senate their opinion on the following questions of law:

Question No. 1. Does the endorsement or direct support of a legislative candidate by an executive branch employee for the purpose of benefiting the department for which the employee is employed violate Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution of Maine?

Question No. 2. Does action taken by an Executive Branch employee to influence a legislator to bring forward or support legislation that directly benefits that department, excluding legislation proposed by the Department itself properly before the Legislature, violate the Laws of the State of Maine or Article III, Section 2, of the Constitution of Maine?

Question No. 3. Is it a violation of the Laws of the State of Maine or the Constitution of the State of Maine, if an Executive Branch employee is elected to the Legislature and represents the interests of the department for which he or she is employed?

Sincerely,
Michael Vaughan HD105, Durham, part of Lisbon and New Gloucester