(Cross-posted at Dirigo Blue)
It appears that similar to Gerald's extraordinary Omnibus of bills, we would be well served to have a primer of the still unfolding events of "Mural-Gate".
So using my previous The First 100 Days of Governor Paul LePage: A Review post as a starting point, I am going to try to fully document on a daily basis, from March to now. Please feel free to add more content and links in comments and I will adjust the post. ~Andi
Panels 7-9 of the Maine Labor Mural.
Day 77 of the LePage Administration, March 22: The beginning of Mural-Gate.
Today staff of the MDOL learned that this mural would be removed. In an email, Acting Commissioner Laura Boyett made the announcement, along with news that some of the names of the meeting rooms would be changed, names like the "Perkins Room."
Frances Perkins was FDR's Secretary of Labor, the first woman in American history to head a Federal department.
Here is that initial email:
From: Boyett, Laura L.
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 12:37 PM
Dear MDOL Colleagues,
The hunt for a new Commissioner is taking longer than anticipated but the search continues. However, the work of the Department of Labor is important, critically needed and cannot be put on hold until a new leader is found. When a new Commissioner is appointed, he or she will find a vibrant, progressive agency; staffed by people committed to delivering quality services to the citizens and businesses of Maine. I am confident of this because it is what I see when I come into the office every day and I am proud to be part of such an outstanding organization.
Maine has just come through one of the most difficult economic crisis in almost 75 years and we still face significant challenges as we recover. The Maine Department of Labor can play a pivotal role in this process. For the Maine economy to thrive, we need strong businesses and skilled workers. They are two sides of the same coin and neither can succeed without the other. The Department of Labor serves both constituencies. We assist businesses in navigating the complexities of the regulations they must operate in, help them to set up safe environments for their workers and connect them with workers possessing the skills needed for their businesses to succeed and grow. We help and support workers through the difficulties of unexpected job loss, connect them to new jobs and provide them with the skills needed to achieve their career goals and succeed in the marketplace. We bring workers and businesses together to build a strongMaine economy.
This is our charge and our vision for moving forward. The important work of this agency is not on hold or in limbo pending the appointment of a new Commissioner and I, along with the Acting Bureau Directors, are committed to leading us forward in this direction.
We have received feedback that the administration building is not perceived as equally receptive to both businesses and workers - primarily because of the nature of the mural in the lobby and the names of our conference rooms. Whether or not the perception is valid is not really at issue and therefore, not open to debate. If either of our two constituencies perceives that they are not welcome in our administration building and this translates to a belief that their needs will not be heard or met by this department, then it presents a barrier to achieving our mission.
I will be seeking a new home for the mural and we will be renaming the conference rooms in our administrative office at Commerce Drive in Augusta. However, I’d like your help in coming up with new names for the conference rooms. I’m holding a ‘renaming contest’ and will select from your suggestions. The names can be places, concepts or things but should not reflect a bias toward either business or workers – the names should feel welcoming to both. Although arguments can be made that some of the existing names do not reflect any bias, to keep things simple, we are going to make a clean sweep across the board and change all. Therefore, we need naming suggestions for 8 conference rooms. Send your suggestions to Neena Quirion by close of business on April 5th. There will be a small prize for the successful author or authors so put on your thinking caps!
As I hear news on the Commissioner search I will pass it on to you. In the meantime, businesses and workers are counting on us to help them during challenging times and after 17 years of working with you at MDOL, I know I can count on all of you to continue to do just that.
Thank you,
Laura Boyett, Acting Commissioner
Maine Department of Labor
At first, it was reported that "an anonymous fax" sent to his office was what caused him to make the decision to remove the mural.
After some pressure, LePage's office finally released the supposed "fax". It was quickly noticed that the "fax" had no date or time stamp nor phone number sent- all of which would normally be on a fax. Adrienne Bennett, LePage's spokesperson, dismissed this astute observation and revised the document to instead be a letter received by their office.
A CYA story that fooled no one in Maine, including one person who commented the following observation on Dirigo Blue, hinting that the LePage administration created the supposed document themselves quickly, to "hush up" the press:
If you look in the upper left area of the letter, there is something else on the paper.
I believe it is the seal that exists on the state letterhead of every modern Maine Governor, and is showing up through the white-out hastily applied over it. Why did this thought occur to me? Because I find it simply impossible that this man has "a secret admirer........" out there.
Much more below.
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