Maine budget vote delayed over censure of Rep. Libby

The Maine state legislature faced delays during its budget vote due to a heated discussion over Republican Rep. Laurel Libby's recent censure. Libby had been censured by the Democratic majority after a social media post identified a transgender athlete. Despite the censure, Libby proposed ten amendments to the state budget, including one aimed at banning transgender athletes from competing in girls' sports. When she presented these amendments, several Democrats protested, leading to a contentious debate about her censure. Libby expressed frustration that her budget proposals were not considered. These included efforts to reduce taxes and government spending. Ultimately, the budget, totaling $11.3 billion, passed along party lines with no input from Republicans. Libby was censured after sharing a post that highlighted the success of a transgender athlete who won a girls' competition. She has since filed a lawsuit seeking to restore her rights to speak and vote in the legislature, claiming the censure affects her ability to represent her constituents effectively.