AUGUSTA

Gov. Paul LePage said he may call a special legislative session this fall to bring up an undisclosed issue, prompting sharp criticism from Democrats who say he’s playing politics and being secretive.

The Republican governor’s comments were recorded at a GOP fundraiser in Bangor on Wednesday night and appeared Thursday in a political blog posted on the Bangor Daily News website. In a recording to his comments accompanying the blog, Le- Page says he has a plan to call lawmakers into special session but he couldn’t reveal the proposal because the attorney general is reviewing it.

“I like to push the envelope, and so we’ve got it half open and I believe in my mind I believe it can be done. It’s not a matter of whether or not we should do it or can do it, it’s a matter of is our constitution here in Maine allowing us to do it,” the governor says in the recording.

“I’m just trying to do what other Republican states have done this year and I got to wait before I say too much more about it, but what I’m telling you is this: If we get this done, the state of Maine will be on the right track for the next 10 years,” he tells applauding Republicans at the Sea Dog brew pub.

Hinting at the partisan nature of his idea, LePage says, “I think we can get it done in about a day and the Democrats, if you think they hate me now … Wow.”

The governor didn’t mention a specific date for a session. His comments were carried in the blog of freelance columnist Mike Tipping, communications director of the liberal-leaning Maine People’s Alliance. His columns appear in some Maine newspapers and websites.

LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said Thursday she could not divulge the topic or any other details of the governor’s idea because it was under legal review by Attorney General William Schneider’s office. The review could be completed within a few days, in which case the topic would be made public, she said.

“This is an issue our staff has been working very hard on … it’s a priority issue,” said Bennett. She also shrugged off assertions that the governor is being secretive, saying, “If he issues a proclamation (calling a session), all of the details will be made public and made public very quickly.”

The subject of a session could involve any of a broad range of topics that came up during the session that ended May 31. Some of the major issues included Medicaid cutbacks, education initiatives and union protections. Lawmakers have set aside Sept. 6 for a Senate confirmation session for dozens of LePage appointees.

Democratic legislative leaders quickly demanded the governor make his proposal public immediately.

“The governor is sharing a secret plan to spend taxpayer dollars for political purposes with lobbyists and GOP campaign donors,” said Rep. Emily Cain of Orono, the House Democratic leader. “Worse, he is making partisan political threats and keeping the public in the dark. He should make his plans public now.”

Assistant Senate Democratic leader Justin Alfond of Portland called the governor’s actions “divisive politics.”

LePage’s statements took the Republican presiding officers by surprise. House Speaker Robert Nutting of Oakland didn’t know about the governor’s designs for a special session before his comments Wednesday night, and Nutting didn’t know Thursday what the subject might be, said his spokesman Jim Cyr.

“He’s as curious as anyone else about this,” said Cyr.

Senate President Kevin Raye of Perry, who was out campaigning for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat, issued a statement saying he learned of the governor’s interest in a special session as a result of his comments in Bangor.

“The governor has the right to call the Legislature back in. However, since he has not yet presented a proposal, it would be premature to pass judgment on the value of a special session,” said Raye.

The attorney general’s office, responding to an Associated Press request for more information through the Freedom of Access law, said it has no documents that relate to the request. The governor’s office did not immediately respond to an FOA request.