AUGUSTA — The Maine Democratic Party is announcing a statewide tour to get ideas from the public on what policies to pursue during next year’s legislative session.

Democratic leaders held a news conference today in front of the State House to announce their Get Real Maine tour, which begins Saturday in Aroostook County.

Democrats are the minority party in the Legislature this year for the first time in decades. They say Republican rule in Augusta has failed Maine people.

Maine Democratic Party Chairman Ben Grant says stops in Fort Fairfield and Lewiston are planned, and the rest of the schedule is taking shape. Grant says 20 to 25 meetings will be held.

Republicans say the Get Real tour is a copy of Gov. Paul LePage’s Red Tape tour earlier this year.