Lawmakers fail to override LePage’s veto of bill easing Maine's 'blue law'
In an 87-51 vote on Wednesday, Maine’s House of Representatives failed to reach the two-thirds majority required to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that would have allowed some stores to remain open on three major holidays.
The Bangor Daily News reported that the bill vetoed by LePage would have lifted Maine’s “blue law” barring small grocery stores from opening on Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. The bill would have allowed grocers of 5,000 to 10,000 square feet to open on the three holidays.
But LePage’s veto letter said that it didn’t go far enough and argued the Legislature should “allow all Maine businesses the opportunity to decide whether to be open when and how they see fit based on market demand,” the BDN reported.
The blue law, according to the BDN, is a historically religion-based law that was meant to keep families together during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
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