Palmer Quoted in Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting Article on State Constitution

Kenneth Palmer, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Maine, was quoted in the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting article “History shows LePage faces uphill battle to change state constitution.” According to the article, Gov. Paul LePage wants amendments to the Constitution of the State of Maine that would replace the secretary of state position with a lieutenant governor and get rid of the income tax. LePage also said he is considering proposing an amendment that would change the way the state elects its treasurer and attorney general, from election by the legislature to either a popular election or appointment by the governor, the article states. According to records at the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library, of the approximately 1,200 amendments proposed in the state’s history, 172 have been approved by the legislature and voters. “I think the point is, the constitution reflects Maine culture, which is relatively moderate, doesn’t like a lot of rapid change, but does want to keep things up to date,” Palmer said. Seacoast Online and the Bangor Daily News carried the report.