AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine House of Representative has rejected a proposal to give the governor the power to appoint the attorney general.
The Democratic-controlled House voted 115-32 against Republican Gov. Paul LePage's bill on Thursday. It now heads to the Republican-led Senate.
Maine is the only state in the country where the attorney general is elected by the Legislature.
LePage clashes frequently Attorney General Janet Mills, a Democrat. His administration says that allowing the governor to appoint the state's top attorney would make government run more efficiently and effectively.
But opponents said it would put too much power in the hands of the chief executive.
LePage also sought to give the governor the ability to appoint the state treasurer. The Senate rejected that bill Thursday and it is now dead.