Posted on 01/03/2006 8:39:57 PM PST by LdSentinal
AP) A Democratic state legislator announced Tuesday she has quit the party, leaving the Maine House evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
Rep. Barbara Merrill's defection will give the two major parties 73 seats each when the 2006 session opens on Wednesday. Merrill becomes one of four unenrolled or independent members. One Green Party member also serves in the 151-seat chamber.
The Democrats have held a majority in the Maine House for three decades, except for a brief period in 1996 when the Republicans gained the edge. The Democrats maintain control of the state Senate, with 19 of the 35 seats.
Merrill, author of a book in which she makes a stand against political orthodoxies, said she left the Democrats because she is unhappy with the party's stand on budget issues.
GOP leaders asked House Speaker John Richardson, a Democrat, for a meeting to discuss power-sharing arrangements. Richardson said he was willing to listen but had not decided whether any changes should be made.
Has she joined the GOP or is she now an Independent?
Independent.
I would really like to see the statistics demonstrating how many representatives and state officials have left each party at the state and federal levels since 1992.
Unhappy with the Democrat on fiscal issues? Well, she'll love the Republicans with their strict spending control. /sarc
As Maine goes, so goes Vermont.
Why does a tiny state like Maine need so many legislators?
Is there any real difference between Democrats and Republicans in Maine? Maine is a good example that Republican does not mean conservative.
You should look at NH. They have over 400 legislators in the NH state house.
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