Last June, when Maine Gov. Paul LePage threatened to cut off funding for a charter school if it didn't rescind a job offer it made to a Democratic legislator, it looked like he might have put himself in serious political jeopardy. Democrats, of course, were outraged, but LePage's fellow Republicans—with whom he's feuded constantly for years—also seemed ready to cut him loose, and impeachment looked like a real possibility.
But with the legislature now back in session, appetites for a divisive battle have dimmed. Democrats, who control the state House, now say they have no plans to move ahead with impeachment proceedings—and that word comes from none other than House Speaker Mark Eves, the very same guy LePage screwed out of the charter school gig. It also doesn't help matters that late last month, the state attorney general, Democrat Janet Mills, released a report saying there wasn't enough evidence to support pursuing a criminal investigation into LePage.
And even if the House were to proceed, any trial would take place in the Republican-controlled state Senate. The chamber's president, Michael Thibodeau, had previously been very critical of LePage, but with an election coming up, he now seems more focused on preserving his party's fragile 20-to-15 majority. What's more, Thibodeau also faces a potential primary challenge from former state Sen. Carol Weston, a LePage loyalist. (Last year, LePage vowed to personally campaign against any lawmaker who opposed his tax plan, as Thibodeau did.)
Eves (who is still pursuing a civil lawsuit against LePage) did hold out the vague possibility that an attempt to punish LePage could move forward in the future, but it sounds doubtful. Of course, LePage is still LePage, and he could very well wind up doing something horrible yet again that motivates the legislature anew.
