Dear Readers,

Any Mainer who has paid attention to the recent legislative antics in Augusta knows the traditional budget battle has been unusual, as Republicans stood together with Democrats to defy Gov. Paul LePage.

Rep. Stephanie Hawke, a Boothbay Harbor business owner, is a very junior Republican in the House of Representatives controlled by Democrats. Last week she said the whole process has been a bit confusing.

When asked to sum up the session in one word, she said you could say it has been “enlightening.”

Most of her legislative hours were spent learning the ropes.

She offered just one bill, a measure to providing tax exempt status for the Rebuilding Together-Lincoln County program. Although it would only cost the state about $1,200 in tax dollars, it didn't even get out of committee.

The real fun began a couple of weeks ago as House Democrats and Senate Republicans agreed to compromise on the $6.7 billion budget bill. It was quickly denounced by Gov. LePage.

Last week, as it appeared the House Republicans might go along with the compromise, Hawke and others were deluged with recorded phone calls, called robocalls, and emails urging them to vote for or against the proposed compromise. It was all part of an intense lobbying campaign to influence the budget process.

News accounts said two groups were behind the robocalls.

As a political rookie, Hawke said she wondered what the heck was going on.

“My cell phone was loaded with calls, and some of them were pretty ugly.”

Some of her colleagues said they got calls at 3 a.m. When she asked why they answered the 3 a.m. calls, they said they thought it might be a family emergency.

It was the first time she had been targeted with a barrage of robocalls to voters in her district, which includes Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport, Edgecomb, Westport Island and part of South Bristol.

She listened to the calls, and decided to go along with her House Republican caucus and support the compromise.

Did the robocalls work? Not really. “I hate robocalls,” she said.

When legislators passed the compromise budget, over his objections, the governor vetoed 64 separate budget items totaling about $60 million.

On Friday, Hawke was dazzled as the House overrode the 64 LePage budget vetoes in a display of legislative speed that would have made NASCAR proud.

“I think they took about 22 seconds for each override,” she said.“It was like an auction. I just sat there and watched. They called the roll and as soon as they reached the two-thirds margin needed to over ride the governor's vetoes, they just moved on.” She noted she didn't even have time to read, much less consider, the override bills.

Last Friday, when legislators began to override the LePage budget vetoes, she asked the GOP leadership how late the session would last, and was told they would probably adjourn at 5:30 p.m. She got home at 1 a.m.

This week, legislators anticipate that the governor will veto the total budget bill. Then they expect additional late night sessions to over ride his anticipated veto and to wrap up the final business of the session. “I think I will book a room for the night,” she said.

Hawke admitted it has taken a lot of time and effort to learn to be a legislator; but, she said she is working hard and enjoying her new part-time job.

But, for all her efforts, she admits she is not getting rich at taxpayers’ expense. And as a citizen legislator, she figured out she is being paid $14.50 an hour for a 40-hour week.

“I have mechanics at my business (Hawke Motors) who make more than I do, and they get overtime, too,” she said.