2nd Maine Shutdown in 11 Days Angers Workers
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AUGUSTA, Me. — Maine shut down its state government Thursday for the second time in 11 days because of the lack of a budget, and angry state workers demonstrated at the Capitol, jeering Republican lawmakers who blocked passage of the measure.
Gov. John R. McKernan Jr. ordered the new shutdown at 3:30 a.m. after negotiations stalled on a budget deal focusing on GOP-requested changes in a workers’ compensation package.
A crowd estimated by Capitol security at 400 packed into a hall outside McKernan’s office to roar disapproval of his order, which idled about 10,000 non-essential employees.
“One, two, three, four, McKernan’s rich and we are poor!” the protesters chanted.
In a park across from the State House, an encampment of about a dozen tents dubbed Union City sprouted overnight to protest the shutdown.
Democratic legislative leaders in Maine said they would resist GOP efforts to condition approval of a $3.2-billion budget on passage of workers’ compensation reforms.
The Legislature allowed its regular 1991 session to lapse at midnight and then called itself back into special session.
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