Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, stands and listens during debate on a measure to suspend the rules and allow her to speak on her amendments to the budget bill while still under censure Thursday in the House of Representatives chamber at the Maine State House in Augusta. The motion failed to pass so Libby could propose her amendments but not speak in favor of them in debate. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

AUGUSTA — Debate on an $11.3 billion state budget proposal was derailed for nearly an hour Thursday as House Republicans sought to lift the censure against an Auburn lawmaker for a social media post about a transgender high school athlete that garnered nationwide attention and prompted safety concerns for the student, family and community.

Republican Rep. Laurel Libby has not been allowed to speak or vote on the House floor since being censured on Feb. 25. Libby had refused to delete or apologize for her social media post. She has since spoken to numerous right-wing media outlets, including Fox News, about her refusal to apologize for the post and become a sort of hero for conservatives.

Libby was able to submit 10 amendments to the budget that was being debated Thursday afternoon, but she was not allowed to speak about them because of the censure. She repeatedly asked to speak to her amendments and remained standing while being ignored by House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford.

Republicans sought to waive the House rules that required her to apologize so she could speak about the budget. But after a 45-minute debate, the effort was shot down, 74-68.

House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, was moved to tears as he sought to apologize on her behalf. He said the last few weeks “have been ugly” and urged the House to move past the censure.

Faulkingham said “my heart goes out to all children who have been negatively affected by the decisions of adults” and “children should never be used as pawns or targets in a societal conflict waged by adults.”

“It can be hard to forgive or ask forgiveness,” Faulkingham said, after reading a passage from the Bible. “But when someone is hurting it should not be difficult to show love and compassion. Mr. Speaker, to all the students of Greely High School, Freeport High School and any place in the state of Maine that has suffered emotional pain and anxiety caused by adults or members of the Legislature — my heart goes out to you.

“Mr. Speaker, this censure was never meant to go for longer than a day. For it to continue, just creates more bitterness.”

But Democrats held firm, saying that the House censure rules have existed since Maine became a state in 1820 for the purpose of holding lawmakers to the highest ethical and personal standards. They noted that Libby could easily regain her right to speak and vote by offering an apology.

Rep. Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick, said an apology is “the smallest measure of accountability” and waiving the rule would set a bad precedent that lawmakers can ignore the impact of their words and that decorum and accountability only apply when it’s convenient.

“If the representative from Auburn wishes to speak the path is clear,” Roberts said. “Acknowledge the harm caused and issue a simple apology. Until that happens, we must uphold the standards we have set for ourselves.”

Rep. Lucas Lanigan, R-Sanford, came to Libby’s defense.

Lanigan is facing felony domestic violence charges for allegedly strangling his wife during an argument only a few weeks before the November election, which he won by a single vote in a recount. He has pleaded not guilty and is representing himself in the case.

Lanigan accused Democrats of causing harm to his children, by calling for his resignation, stripping him of his committee assignment and launching an ethics investigation that has yet to gain steam.

Lanigan, whose wife tried unsuccessfully to get the charges dropped, decried the “false accusations” that have been leveled against him.

“So shame on all of us for playing judge, jury and executioner,” Lanigan said. “Shame on us.”