PORTLAND — A feud between Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree is continuing for a second day, with the governor suggesting that Pingree is part of the “jet-setting Washington culture that keeps people dependent on government handouts.”

The governor also sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius saying Pingree made claims “that are, at best, misleading, and at worst, false.”

LePage was angered Wednesday when he learned that Pingree had urged Sebelius in a letter to reject Medicaid cuts approved by the Legislature that will eliminate coverage for 21,000 Mainers.

Pingree contends the cuts violate the Affordable Health Care Act. LePage contends the cuts are OK because the Supreme Court decision that upheld the law also limited congressional power to expand Medicaid.