Rooks: Finally, a solution to Maine’s budget problem Douglas Rooks In June 1991, a band of 13 Senate Republicans – just 37% of the members – decided to do what until that moment had seemed unthinkable. Under the guise of wringing legislation to cut worker’s compensation benefits from majority Democrats, the 13 Republicans, led by firebrand Charlie Webster, decided to shut down state government to force minority rule upon a state long known for relatively consensual politics. When moderate Republican Gov. John McKernan endorsed the strategy, Webster forced the shutdown, producing three weeks of chaos before Senate Republicans got what they wanted. All three of those nominally in charge – McKernan, Senate President Charlie Pray, and House Speaker John Martin – soon saw their leadership careers implode. Ever since that day, the Legislature hasn’t been the same.