When it came time to choose the Speaker, the House voted 138-11 to cast one ballot for Nutting -- an extra step in the proceedings designed to give Democrats a chance to show their opposition.
Traditionally, the House casts one ballot for Speaker with unanimous consent from everyone in the chamber. On this day, 11 Democrats voted in opposition to Nutting.
At a Democratic caucus Tuesday, some Democrats said they could not support Nutting because of billing irregularities at a pharmacy he ran in Oakland.
Nutting was found to have over billed Medicaid by $1.6 million over a period of years. After declaring bankruptcy in 2003, he paid back $433,000 to the state and federal government.
Nutting has called the problem an honest mistake and made no reference to it in his acceptance speech.
I understand that this kind of duplicity does not know partisan bias, but after taking control for the first time in 30 years, don't you think Maine Republicans could have found a non-criminal to lead their caucus?
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