In the midst of the current COVID-19 crisis, it’s reassuring to remember that some things haven’t changed. The world is still more than adequately supplied with twits, both stupid and selfish.
Let’s start with stupid. Until recently, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills appeared to be doing a better-than-average job managing the issues caused by the coronavirus. As is often the case in politics, appearances proved deceiving. While Mills was projecting an image of being thoughtful, measured and – above all – transparent, that was something of a mirage.
The Portland Press Herald discovered that between March 20 and April 15, the governor and her staff held nine secret meetings with legislators to discuss … well, we don’t actually know what they discussed because: secret. They didn’t notify the public about these online and telephone confabs and kept no recordings or records of the proceedings.
When confronted by the newspaper with this blatant violation of state open meetings and public records laws, Mills’ spokeswoman, Lindsay Crete, offered the lamest possible excuse. “The coronavirus has temporarily shifted the way that government business is conducted,” Crete wrote, “but the Administration maintains its commitment to transparency.”
Mills canceled any additional clandestine gatherings – as far as we know – which, as we’ve already discovered, isn’t very far.
The governor’s excuse seems to be that because these little get-togethers were held separately for Democratic and Republican legislators, they were essentially party caucuses, which aren’t covered by right-to-know laws. This is, of course hogwash. The Press Herald’s lawyer, Sigmund Schutz termed it “a deliberate attempt to subvert public access [which was] highly suspect and possibly illegal.”
Before conservatives start calling for Mills impeachment, they should take into account that if she’s removed from office, her replacement would be Democratic Senate President Troy Jackson, an intemperate, populist quasi-extremist. Think Bernie Sanders, only with better hair, fewer brains and less charm.
Suddenly secret meetings don’t seem so awful.
There is, however, another reason to be concerned about conducting government business out of the public’s sight: It lends credibility to the conspiracy theorists. Erik Arneson, executive director of Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records, told National Public Radio that when elected officials operate behind the scenes, “it’s just a recipe for suspicion.”
In Maine, the kooks scarcely needed any such encouragement. Even before Mills’ secret meetings were discovered, the extremists, selfishly concerned with advancing their absurd agendas regardless of the health consequences, were already concocting claims that rules imposed by the state were nothing more than left-wing plots to steal their constitutional rights. GOP state Rep. Larry Lockman of Amherst sent out an email to supporters asserting that Mills’ order for Mainers to stay at home except for essential errands was nothing short of “house arrest” and “martial law lite.” Lockman, who has the medical knowledge of the average pine tree, dismissed COVID-19 as little more than a slightly nastier version of the common flu.
Then there’s Republican state Rep. Chris Johansen of Monticello, who promoted what he termed an “illegal” demonstration outside the Blaine House in Augusta on April 20 to protest Mills’ order shutting down non-essential businesses. In announcing the protest, Johansen claimed, without offering any evidence, that the governor had “restricted our free speech, guns and churches.” He warned that participants might be arrested if they attended, although nobody was.
Instead, according to news reports, about 300 people, mostly without face masks and mostly closer than six feet from each other, spent an hour saying a bunch of silly stuff, such as that the coronavirus was a politically motivated attempt to destroy Maine’s economy. Because that makes perfect sense.
It would be a whole lot easier to dismiss the irrational claims and unfounded accusations of Lockman, Johansen and other fringe elements if Mills and her pals hadn’t been meeting in secret for reasons we still don’t know.
The governor isn’t responsible for this pandemic, but she is responsible for the lack of faith in the government’s response to it. She needs to stop social distancing herself from common sense.
You can still secretly email me at aldiamon@herniahill.net.
Your title calls to mind the Charlie Rich song of the same name, which was all about being discreet. Are you saying it would be better if she acted in secrecy without anybody knowing she was doing so?
Al, you are really ‘reaching’. I graduated high school with Janet Mills; we have been friends forever. While I can agree to disagree with her politically (and it doesn’t matter since I vote in Florida), I find your insinuation that she has done something nefarious regarding conversations with member of BOTH political parties during the COVID-19 situation to be really pushing the envelope. Again, Janet and I can disagree about numerous things, but I never—for a moment—will believe that this woman has anything in mind except the health and safety of every single resident of the State of Maine. That she didn’t invite you in on the conversation?? OH WELL!!!!!
Al.. interesting article… But, when you mentioned that Troy Jackson would be the replacement for Gov. Mills… that scared the…..$#%&$… bejesus out of me… the only thing in the political world worse is realizing that Nancy Plousey is close in line to replace Trump…As for Sen. Jackson… I understand that Paul Bunyon on Lower Main Street in Bangor turns around when Sen. Jackson drives by…
Don’t blame me, I voted for Moody.
Secret, separate, partisan meetings with no minutes…she should be charged for that. Planning out to exploit us. Trump’s a thug….riiiight, laughing my butt off.
The far worse crime is her delaying the distribution of unemployment for the self-employed (more than 40% of Maine’s workforce). Funds were distributed by Fed Gov about a month ago, and again last week. But they STILL have not helped these people, who have been prevented from working by the state gov’t, and who have now gone several months with no income. Some are beginning to need handouts. People are upset. Hope they remember in November.
They are in way over their depth here; we need adults to be voted back in, but first we need to end the ’emergency’ so our Legislature can take their proper role. Clearly she and Shah can’t do this on their own. Note their fudgy numbers-use, ‘cases’, ‘rates’ and such…we were told we were trying to ‘flatten the curve’…and now, in Liberal moving goalpost fashion…we’re going to ‘stop new cases’ or something?? NO, won’t agree to losing my freedom over that, sorry. Wasn’t what we agreed upon.
How much more damage is this administration going to do to the state, over a virus that puts about two-tenths of a percent of those it infects into the hospital, and which is minimally present in most of the state? Mills clearly loves her PROGRAMS as she stated yesterday…and she just as clearly could care less about the PEOPLE of the state. Our well-being is NOT being considered; the over-reaction is politically motivated. There is no leadership there.
Illinois courts have now found that ‘stay at home’ orders aren’t constitutional. It’s time to apply that here. Hey, if you can show harm, you can probably use us taxpayers after and get some compensation.
NEVER AGAIN isn’t just for the Holocaust anymore. WHEN this returns (because it is SURE to), we will NOT be ‘locking down’ again…that is for prisons, not free people. You can try; guess the jails will be full – tho already found unconstitutional. No Plan Jan – it’s time to MAKE a plan, for now AND then. This is being blown WAY out of proportion, it is NOT ebola, and it’s time to DEAL like grownups and save the future….FOR THE CHILDREN.
Another shameless and secretive back room episode reveals the nature of the Democratic establishment and their hunger for power.
‘If the democrats didn’t have double standards they would have no standards at all.’
Let’s see if the AG levies any charges and fines for Governor Mills ‘indiscretions’.
It’s a pity you can’t “like” comments here. Marlene Ross Shields nailed it.
Perhaps those incensed individuals above should contact their GOP legislators who were in on these secret meetings. As Al indicated, the calls were divided between D and R legislators.
Call your state Representative and Senator and tell them to get back to work now!
https://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/MemberProfiles/ListAlpha
http://legislature.maine.gov/senate-home-page/find-your-state-senator
I liked the line about the “Intelligence of a pine tree.” Guess that mustah left Paul Pandemic outta the conversation altogether Mistah
Luke writes,
“As Al indicated, the calls were divided…”
Key word is “DIVIDED”.
So far, Janet has only caused a greater “DIVIDE” in our state.
Starting with her Welcome Home to illegals speech, to her CMP back room mess,, and on to these “secret” from the public meetings.
Honestly, she seems like a bigger bully than her predecessor by a long shot.
Who would have thought that possible,,
“Divide and Conquer” …
Quite an accomplishment Gov Mills.
To Al, I realize this article was your way of denying us conspiracy theorists our fun of accusing you of being a liberal shill.. But Thanks anyways!!
Cheers.
COVID-19 isn’t legal cover to violate Maine’s public meetings and open records laws. Mills, as a former AG, had to have known she was breaking both the letter and the spirit of the laws. One can only assume that she thought she wouldn’t be held responsible now that the entire government is controlled by one party. And, sure enough, the controversy has come and gone with minor kvetching by the press but no legal repercussions. No one is above the law – unless your last name is Mills, that is.
Our authoritarian governor or should I say non governor made it onto Fox News.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/maine-restaurateur-rick-savage-reopening-defying-lockdown
Hopefully this will attract the attention of Attorney General Barr.
Freedom is when you can force workers to labor under unsafe conditions in a pandemic,
Tyranny is when the state forces companies to adhere to minimum safety conditions for their own employees.
Please watch the interview that Mainiac provided.
This restaurant has done nothing but give to the community.
Thank you to Sunday River Brewing.
The owner of this restaurant is they type of person that makes America Great.
Janet Mills is not.
She has quickly spent us into debt (unnecessarily).
Now she’s looking to the federal government to bail US out.
We could bail ourselves out if she would get out of the way.
But that’s not the “progressive” way….
Demand More Free Stuff.. after Causing your own crisis.
Sickening Stupidly …
The state’s reopening of the economy should be done county by county, not state wide. Oxford county where Sunday River Brewery is located has only had 15 confirmed cases and 12 of those have recovered. No way the economy in Oxford county should remain closed.