So Maine is not complying with Trump's executive order banning boys from girls' sports. We know that.
But now we've got a Republican member of the Maine legislature, Laurel Libby, being censured - not allowed to vote or speak on the floor until she apologizes - for a post on Facebook which showed a Maine boy winning the state championship in the girls' pole vault.
This is what gets you censured in Maine.
The Democrats are using the "this is a minor, and she's publicly harassing him" angle, as if this minor winning state was somehow not public information.
They say she's being censured for breaking a rule, but nobody is sure which rule she broke.
The rule:
11. Breach of rules. When any member is guilty of a breach of any of the rules and orders of the House and the House has determined that the member has violated a rule or order, that member may not be allowed to vote or speak, unless by way of excuse for the breach, until the member has made satisfaction.
You can see how Rule 401, part 11 is simply a rule that says you broke the rules so you're then censured.
From Fox News:
House Majority Leader Matt Moonen condemned Libby in a statement on the House floor.
‘She has irreparably broken the trust that has been placed in her as an elected official serving in this House of Representatives,' Moonen said. ‘This institution and all of Maine deserve better.'
House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham spoke out against the censure, pointing out that the state legislature's ethics code does not mention online posts that members make.
Libby pointed out that, "It's a remarkable double standard as there are public photos of this individual in many places … this was an individual who participated in a public event, who publicly stood on a podium and accepted a championship medal that rightfully belonged to the girls standing on the second-place spot."
During the vote to censure her, which passed a Democratic-majority legislature 75-70, she was given an opportunity to speak, but was continually interrupted.
So she went live and gave the speech privately to the internet:
Protecting women's sports is now an ethics violation, folks.
I sure hope she gains back her ability to vote and speak on the floor, though it's a bit of a catch 22, because I also hope she stands firm in her position and refuses to apologize.
I'll leave you with this:
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