Via the Kennebec Journal’s Susan Cover comes the word that Charles “Wick” Johnson III of Hallowell will not appeal a recent decision rejecting his challenge of the signatures on the people’s veto of the tax reform legislation. With that announcement, it is certain that a people’s veto of LD 1495 will be the first question on the referendum portion of the June primary ballot.
The other outstanding lawsuit on this issue filed by Maine Republican Party Chairman Charles Webster may yet be appealed, however. Webster – and his lawyer, Dan Billings – contend that Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap lost his right to invalidate any signatures when he missed the thirty-day deadline. While the outcome of this case will not now affect the June ballot or the status of LD 1495, it may establish procedural precedent for future citizen’s initiatives and people’s vetoes.
We will update this post as more information on the issue comes in.
