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AUGUSTA, Maine — The Democratic-led Maine House of Representatives will vote Thursday to censure two Republicans who used floor speeches to tie the Oct. 25 mass shooting in Lewiston to God’s wrath over an abortion law passed last year.
Rep. Michael Lemelin, R-Chelsea, made remarks to that effect during a late-Wednesday debate on “shield bill” that aims to shield out-of-state patients who get abortions or gender-affirming care here from legal action in other states. Rep. Shelley Rudnicki, R-Fairfield, rose to say she agreed with Lemelin, a second-term lawmaker representing towns outside of Augusta.
Rebukes were swift from both political parties. Rep. Rachel Henderson, R-Rumford, rose to call Lemelin’s remarks “reprehensible.” Assistant House Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, issued a statement saying the two lawmakers showed a “stunning lack of empathy and infuriating disregard for the victims, their families and everyone in our community.”
House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, said in letters to Lemelin and Rudnicki that the House would vote to censure them on Thursday as soon as staff could prepare orders. She also said that the two would be barred from speaking or voting under House rules governing decorum until they apologized from the floor and in writing for their remarks.
“Your actions are deserving of the most serious consequences this body can deliver,” the letters from Talbot Ross read.
Neither Lemelin nor Rudnicki immediately responded to a request for comment on whether they would follow the steps outlined by Talbot Ross. Democrats hold a narrow 80-68 majority in the chamber, meaning that any extended absence for the two members could affect margins.
These kinds of reprimands are rare in the Legislature. Rep. John Michael, I-Auburn, was the first lawmaker in Maine House history to be censured after he shouted at two colleagues in 2001, according to media reports at the time. Former Rep. Scott Hamman was removed from two committees after a 2017 social media rant against then-President Donald Trump.
Any censure of Lemelin or Rudnicki would require a two-third vote of the chamber. The only higher penalty than that under House rules is removal, which also requires the same threshold.
