Republican Governor Paul LePage lashed out at top Democrat Troy Jackson saying he “gives it” to the people “without vaseline.” The governor said this after Jackson promised to stall budget negotiations.
Jackson and LePage are dueling over Medicaid expansion. LePage, a Republican in a blue state, had earlier vetoed a budget which would have expanded Medicaid to 70,000 Maine residents.
No grease.
WPXI reported:
The often-brash governor of Maine used crude language Thursday to express his frustration over the state budget, targeting a Democratic opponent with a sexually vulgar phrase to describe how he believes he is taking advantage of the people.
Gov. Paul LePage made the remark about Sen. Troy Jackson to journalists from two television stations and one newspaper Thursday.
His comments were targeted at Jackson, the assistant Democratic leader, who criticized the governor’s veto announcement and call for 60-day reprieve to negotiate a new budget as a political stunt.
Jackson said that the Legislature had enough votes to override the veto and that there was no need for lawmakers to negotiate with LePage.
LePage said Jackson “claims to be for the people, but he’s the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline.”
He later added: “Dammit, that comment is not politically correct, but we got to understand who this man is.
“This man is a bad person,” LePage continued. “He doesn’t only have no brains. He has a black heart and so does the leadership upstairs.”