AUGUSTA — An attempt by Rep. Laurel Libby to read into the record votes she missed this legislative session due to having been censured sparked a last-minute debate in the House of Representatives Wednesday night as lawmakers attempted to finish up their work for the year.
Libby, an Auburn Republican, was censured by the House in February after she used photos of a transgender student in a Facebook post to criticize Maine’s policy of allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls sports.
She was barred from voting and from speaking in floor debates, though the U.S. Supreme Court restored her right to vote late last month after Libby filed a lawsuit. Libby was still unable to speak in debates, but Republicans argued Wednesday that she should be allowed to speak to record her votes.
Libby did not say on the floor what she intended to speak to, but confirmed later Wednesday that she intended to read into the record how she would have voted on bills that came up between Feb. 25 and May 20, when the court restored her voting rights.
She said she would be revisiting the issue next week to try and have her votes recorded. “I look forward to being back here, in the House chamber, next week, and continuing to attempt to have my constituents’ voices heard and my votes registered,” she said in an interview.
Libby’s attempt to speak after several months of being prohibited from engaging in debate seemed to take some lawmakers by surprise.
House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, has said that if Libby were to apologize for the Facebook post, she could have her speaking privileges restored.
“If this might be an apology, I’d be happy to vote yes (to allow her to speak),” said Rep. Sharon Frost, an unenrolled lawmaker from Belgrade.
Fecteau said that regardless of whether the House allowed Libby to speak Wednesday night, she “will be able to log into the chamber’s atmosphere how she would have voted had she been able to on these roll calls.”
It was unclear late Wednesday how Libby could have recorded her votes after the fact. A spokesperson for Fecteau referred questions to the House clerk’s office, which did not respond to a voicemail message.
Some Republican lawmakers came to Libby’s defense Wednesday night, arguing she should be able to record her votes on the floor. “Why is she not entitled to be able to go ahead and have it on the record and speak on the record to her votes only?” said Rep. Marygrace Cimino, R-Bridgton. “She is not debating anything. … She’s just vocalizing on the record what her votes are.”
House Majority Leader Matt Moonen, D-Portland, moved the House adjourn, a motion that was passed 96-48.
The debate came as lawmakers were finishing up their work for the year. While they are expected to return for one day next week to take up some outstanding matters and will also return to respond to any vetoes from the governor, most of their work concluded Wednesday.
