Rep. Richard Campbell (R-Orrington) introduced a bill to bar males from women’s sports at Maine schools last summer and again at the beginning of the current legislative session, weeks before the current spat between Governor Janet Mills (D) and President Donald Trump (R).

If enacted, Rep. Campbell’s bill would bringing the state in line with President Trump’s executive order, but that would require overcoming determined opposition from Gov. Mills, who last week told President Trump that Maine would take him to court over the issue.

“Maine seems to be in the forefront of [this issue] because of the President’s actions and comments, the governor’s responses, and other people that are vocal. So now I think whether it’s my bill or another bill, it’s time to address this issue on behalf of the young girls,” Campbell told The Maine Wire.

“The Democrat Party used to be for the little guy and the children, at least, that’s what they profess. Apparently, in this case, that doesn’t matter. It’s both very confusing but unfortunate,” he added.

The bill, LD 233, drew co-sponsorship from nine Republican lawmakers, including former U.S. congressional candidate Rep. Mike Soboleski (R-Phillips).

Just under a page long, the simple bill prevents schools that receive any state funding whatsoever from allowing biological males to compete in female sports, regardless of their self-described gender identity.

The bill has not yet had any public hearings or work sessions, and has been referred to the Judiciary Committee for consideration. Despite polling showing that 79 percent of Americans, and 67 percent of Democrats and Democrat-leaning voters, oppose men in women’s sports, the bill is extremely unlikely to pass in a Democrat controlled legislature.

“It’s time for the Democrats to step up and actually do something about this. They have the majority in the House, the Senate, on the committees and the governor. So it just is very confusing to me that they would run in the direction that they decided, it’s puzzling,” said Campbell.

President Trump signed an executive order promising to withhold federal funding from schools that continue to allow boys into girls’ sports, threatening over $280 million in funding for Maine. Nevertheless, the Maine Principal’s Association and the Maine Department of Education have refused to change their current policy.

Prior to the present stand-off, Maine’s state budget was already facing a half billion dollar shortfall. Currently in Augusta, the Mills administration and legislative Democrats are sparring with Republicans over a $118 million supplemental spending bill the governor insists in necessary to fund Medicaid obligations.

On Wednesday, state Rep. Elizabeth Caruso (R-Caratunk) is scheduled to hold a press conference at the State House at 1 p.m. to present a bill she has recently introduced entitled “An Act to Ensure Equity and Safety in Athletics, Restrooms, Changing Rooms and Housing at Elementary, Secondary and Postsecondary Schools.”