STATE OF MAINE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SPEAKER'S OFFICE AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333-0002 (207) 287-1300 MARK WESTWOOD EVES SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE April 26, 2016 Office of the Attorney General 6 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 Dear Attomey General Mills and Ombudsman Kielty, As you know, yesterday, Governor LePage called meeting of the full membership of the Commission to Reform Public Education Funding and Improve Student Performance in Maine. The Commission was established by law and nothing in LD 1641 exempts the Commission from Maine’s Freedom of Access Act (FOAA). 1 M.R.S. §403. As you also know, Governor LePage prohibited the public, including Democratic Education Committee members, press, a member of my staff, and other interested individuals from attending and observing the Commission meeting in clear violation of Maine’s Freedom of Access Act. In direct contradiction to FOAA, and with no explanation, Governor LePage held the Commission meeting without public notice, at a location closed to the public, and actively barred attendance by anyone other than those he personally invited. 1 MRS. §401 The exclusion of the public without any justification or exemption in the law raises serious concerns that his actions were intended to defeat the purposes of the Act. ‘The law is designed to ensure openness and transparency when the people's business is being discussed. The governor's lack of notice and active exclusion of the public was a blatant and willful violation of Freedom of Access law and principle We understand that your office has already determined that yesterday's meeting violated FOAA. Due to the serious implications of this violation of the public access law, especially when discussing something as important as the education of Maine children, we urge you to move forward with available sanctions to ensure that future meetings of this Commission and all other public proceedings will be open to the public and held with ample notice. Maine people deserve no less. We appreciate your quick and clear action thus far. Please keep us posted on what your office will be doing to hold Governor LePage accountable. Speaker Mark Eves