The governor, along with those of us in the legislature, are all elected by the people, to bear a responsibility of public service, making laws and governing for the people of Maine. Elected office is not a license to play partisan games or find new and clever ways to attack and demean Maine people. We are not elected to make life harder for working Mainers while benefiting corporations and our most wealthy.

The solemn duty of elected leaders is to provide for the people and our common good through an efficient, effective and responsible state government, with laws that serve all of us. Real leadership includes uniting people and other leaders around a positive vision of what is special about Maine and a commitment to together build on Maine’s strengths. I believe as leaders we should put our time and effort into finding ways to provide every person a fair and reasonable opportunity to live a good life here for themselves and future generations.

At its worst, our legislature fails to put facts, reason, and the people’s interests first — above ideology. At its best, we are able to unite and compromise, to work together in doing what Maine people need and expect us to do, and bring out the best of everyone in meeting Maine’s challenges.

Recent actions by our governor have made clear that working together is no longer his interest. Neither is compromise, nor earnest consideration of facts and other viewpoints. He has lost sight of what it means to lead.

First, he failed to live up to his promises — refused to honor the will of the people in approving bonds for the Lands for Maine’s Future program and others. Then, the governor upped his game of threatening and insulting legislators of all parties who disagree with him or fail to kowtow to his wishes. Next, he began vetoing all bills sponsored by Democrats regardless of the bill’s merits.

And less than a week ago, the governor stated publicly that because Democrats, Independents and Republicans joined together in passing a budget not to his liking, he will veto every bill sent to him. Angry rants and childish insults are a poor substitute for leadership.

Every bill deserves consideration on its merits. Service to the people is not accomplished by summarily dismissing everyone else’s ideas and insisting on having everything your way. If our form of government were a dictatorship such actions would be expected. Fortunately, our forefathers rejected kings and dictators, reserving final power for the people and ensuring a balance of powers within government between Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches.

And so this story came to a crossroads when Gov. LePage sent us line item vetoes of 64 lines in the budget, reducing 126 allocations. Legislators in Maine’s House and Senate remained steadfast to their budget decision and voted 126 times to override those vetoes by significant margins. Clearly a strong majority of the legislature in both parties has not forgotten the importance of serving the people, not the governor.

When the Senate completed those votes on Friday, June 19, every senator rose and applauded. President Thibodeau and President pro-tem Mason had done an admirable and expeditious job. In the House and Senate we likely set records for both the number and speed of votes cast for the day.

While I am proud of what I and fellow legislators accomplished in the face of strident political pressure from our governor, there is a great deal more we should have accomplished this session. Serving our people well means more than banding together in a crisis, more than preventing harm. It also means accomplishing good things for Maine. And in that, we still have much more work to do.

I will continue earnest consideration of ideas, debating each bill on its merits in committee and on the floor when there is a need, regardless of who sponsored the bill. Less rhetoric, more facts and reason — less partisan motivation, more seeking wisdom rooted in the lives of the people of Maine.