House Democrats Try to Force LePage to Issue Housing Bonds

House Democrats are trying to force Gov. Paul LePage to issue $15 million in voter-approved bonds for senior housing.

The Democrat-controlled House on Monday voted 80-63 to compel a legislative panel to draft legislation that would release the housing bonds. The measure passed mostly along party lines and will now go the Republican-controlled Senate.

The Republican governor has criticized the bond, which voters approved in November, 69 percent to 31 percent.

Republicans said that the governor has five years to authorize voter-approved bonds and that Democrats were interfering with governor's ability to do his job. Democrats noted LePage in the past said he would hold up voter-approved conservation bonds unless lawmakers approved a plan to increase timber harvesting on state land. (AP)