AUGUSTA, Maine - Republican Gov. Paul LePage's political foes are criticizing a new policy that's giving more vacation time to political appointees and staff.
The policy change allows 54 officials to count years worked before their appointment when calculating vacation time. The change was first reported Wednesday by the Bangor Daily News.
LePage said in a statement that it allows his administration to better recruit and retain good employees from the private sector and brings appointees in line with pay and benefits for other state employees.
But Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Michaud said the move was "outrageous'' and is another example of LePage's "mismanagement wasting taxpayer dollars.''
Independent Eliot Cutler accused LePage said that if it's a good idea, the change should be implemented for all state employees, not just political appointees.