Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) says he expects protesters to come to his state after people start reading his budget. LePage told Politico he thinks Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is facing a “big challenge.”
“And quite frankly, once they start reading our budget they’re going to leave Wisconsin and come to Maine, because we’re going after right to work,” LePage said in an interview at the National Governors Association meeting this weekend.
LePage said workers shouldn’t have to be in unions if they don’t want to be.
“I believe that the Declaration of Independence says ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,'” he said. “Whenever someone forces me to do something against my will, they’re infringing upon my freedoms and my liberties. And that’s what I think we’re doing in Maine when we have fair share, which means that you are required to belong to a union, you’re required to pay dues but you don’t want to participate. I find that to be against everything the United States of America stands for.”
“[I’m] never inspired by a fight,” LePage said, before adding that he did admire Walker for “recognizing the problem, and at least attempting to get it under control.”
“He’s taken an option that he believes is necessary for his state, and I certainly support him,” LePage said.
Last week, LePage made headlines when he downplayed the dangers of the chemical bisphenol-A, saying the “worst case is some women may have little beards.”
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