Protesters take over Maine State House on Day 1 of shutdown
Source: Bangor Daily News
AUGUSTA, Maine On Day 1 of Maines government shutdown, an estimated 200 demonstrators led by the state employees union on Saturday jeered Republican lawmakers who killed a two-year deal opposed by Gov. Paul LePage overnight.
The engineers of that deal, Senate President Mike Thibodeau, R-Winterport, and House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, are holding short legislative sessions during the weekend, keeping weary members in the building and vowing to continue work until a deal is reached.
[Live blog: Follow Maines government shutdown]
On Saturday, a group of 200 or so protesters affiliated with the Maine State Employees Union circled the governors residence and moved into the State House, where they heard rah-rah messages from top Democrats and chanted at House Republicans who opposed the budget as they walked through the third-floor hallway between the chambers.
Senate Minority Leader Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, called the shutdown bullshit in a short speech, blaming hostage-takers that have shut the state down because they dont know what its like to be a working-class person who needs these paychecks.
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Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2017/07/01/politics/protesters-take-over-maine-state-house-on-day-1-of-shutdown/