Ex-Lawmaker Removed From Maine Governor's Meeting for Tossing Vaseline

Joanne Twomey began shouting at Governor LePage

Republican Gov. Paul LePage says an outburst by a former Democratic lawmaker at his most recent town hall meeting isn't going to stop him from talking to residents about his plan to overhaul the tax code.

The Saco town hall on Thursday ended abruptly after former Biddeford mayor and lawmaker Joanne Twomey angrily confronted LePage and tossed a jar of Vaseline in his direction, apparently a reference to a crude remark he made about a lawmaker in 2013. Police escorted her out.

Twomey says she believes LePage's proposed budget will hurt low-income residents.

LePage told reporters Friday that Twomey, like all Americans, has the right of free speech. He said the event energized him and he's "not going to back down" because he believes strongly about eliminating the state's income tax.

The governor received national attention in 2013 when he made a vulgar comment about a state senator who had criticized his budget, telling reporters that "Senator (Troy) Jackson claims to be for the people, but he's the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline." LePage later apologized to Jackson.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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