Governor-Elect Mills Requests a Freeze on All State Contracts

By:  David Deschesne

Fort Fairfield Journal, December 21, 2018

AUGUSTA, Maine—In an effort to make the governor’s transition as chaotic and complicated as possible, Maine’s incoming Democrat governor, Janet Mills has requested of two state agencies to cease and desist on finalizing all pending State contracts until after she takes office next month. 

   Mills sent letters to the commissioners of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services and the Department of Health and Human Services, requesting that the State “not finalize any contracts until after January 2, 2019,” and additionally requested a list of pending and expiring contracts.   Mills, however, doesn’t seem to be aware that she is not the governor, yet and a more responsible leader is still in charge.

   “It is inappropriate to request that ongoing work on behalf of the people of Maine be halted for more than three weeks and sit there until you are inaugurated,” wrote Governor LePage in his response to Mills’ request. “A smooth transition implies that the routine work of state government goes on uninterrupted. Contracting is part of that work.”

   He continued, “You look to halt all procurement of state government for all agencies for all amounts. If I did this, I would not be transitioning government; I would be abdicating my responsibilities. Acquiescing to your request would place contractors that have routinely provided quality service to the State into chaos, not knowing when the contract might be issued or renewed, and causing potential--and needless--layoffs of their employees.”

   This isn’t the first display of brash recklessness by Mills.  As the State’s Attorney General—an employee of the State accountable to the Governor and Legislature—she arbitrarily entered into a politically motivated federal lawsuit sponsored by another State with no approval from the Governor or Legislature.  She then smugly refused to provide information on how much money or manpower her office was expending for her unauthorized activity.