AUGUSTA, Maine - Republican Gov. Paul LePage says an outburst by a former Democratic lawmaker at his most recent town hall meeting isn't going to stop him from talking to residents about his plan to overhaul the tax code.
The Saco town hall on Thursday ended abruptly after former Biddeford mayor and lawmaker Joanne Twomey angrily confronted LePage and tossed a jar of Vaseline in his direction, apparently a reference to a crude remark he made about a lawmaker in 2013. Police escorted her out.
Twomey says she believes LePage's proposed budget will hurt low-income residents.
LePage told reporters Friday that Twomey, like all Americans, has the right of free speech. He said the event energized him and he's "not going to back down'' because he believes strongly about eliminating the state's income tax.