Maine Senate Republican leaders are calling on the state Democratic party to apologize for a recent mailer against GOP Sen. Brian Langley, of Ellsworth. Langley is targeted for his vote to sustain the governor's veto of a bill that would have expanded the public's right to know regarding the number of products sold in Maine containing the potentially hazardous chemical BPA.
Republican leaders say their opposition to the bill earlier this year was based on their belief that the BPA issuse had been resolved by a previous legislature. And they say the proposed legislation would have added unnecessary additional steps to the toxic chemical prioritization process.
But the Democratic Party's flier, mailed out earlier this week in Hancock County, accuses Langley of choosing not to protect children against toxic chemicals, a charge he denies. "Farthest thing from the truth," he says. "In two prior roll call votes on BPA, I voted to ban BPA both times."
The Democratic Party stands by the information in the mailer. Spokeswoman Rachel Irwin says Langley voted to side with big out-of-state chemical companies over the safety of children and families.