Call to Action Archive
Suit Up Maine publishes new calls to action (C2A) each week. The current actions can be found on our homepage, but past C2A can be viewed here in our archive by topics. For more information on the specific issues and the working groups that produce them, click on the issue headers below.
FACT CHECK: Correcting Anti-Vaccine Testimony
While measles outbreaks are spreading across 22 states and Maine’s pertussis rate is the worst in the nation, our state’s non-medical vaccination opt-out rate is more than triple the national average. At the public hearing earlier this year for a law passed by the Maine Legislature to strengthen vaccination requirements for school children, false and misleading information was shared by anti-vaccination advocates. We decided to do some fact checking to set the record straight. Now that it appears a “people’s veto” will appear on the ballot in March to repeal this public health law, having these facts is more important than ever.
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BLOCK EXTREMIST & UNQUALIFIED JUDGES: No Zealots in Lifetime Positions
We’re tracking the most concerning nominees to lifetime judicial appointments, in partnership with other progressive groups. Because Mitch McConnell slashed the time frame for reviewing nominees, many highly objectionable have been rushed through to confirmation, and others now face IMMINENT votes.
QUICK ACTION: Call Collins and King and tell them to voice their opposition to these extremist nominees facing imminent confirmation votes.
ABORTION RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK: How You Can Stand Up and Fight Back
Extreme abortion bans have passed in Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississippi, and more are pending in several state legislatures. All are designed to take advantage of the the Supreme Court’s new conservative majority in an attempt to overturn Roe v Wade.
QUICK ACTION: Find out how YOU can help support, protect, and expand abortion access.
SAVE SNAP: Oppose Trump’s cuts to food assistance program
The Trump administration has issued a proposed rule change that would cut food assistance to 3.1 million people—including 44,000 Mainers—and eliminate school meals for 500,000 children. QUICK ACTION: Submit a public comment opposing the rule change by September 23 and tell your MoCs to protect vulnerable Mainers.
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BLOCK EXTREMIST & UNQUALIFIED JUDGES: No Zealots in Lifetime Positions
We’re tracking the most concerning nominees to lifetime judicial appointments, in partnership with other progressive groups. Because Mitch McConnell slashed the time frame for reviewing nominees, many highly objectionable have been rushed through to confirmation, and others now face IMMINENT votes.
QUICK ACTION: Call Collins and King and tell them to voice their opposition to these extremist nominees facing imminent confirmation votes.
RECESS ACTIONS: Attend an August recess event
While Maine’s Congressional delegation is home for the August recess, groups around the state are holding events to draw their attention to critical issues. QUICK ACTION: Find an event near you and tell your members of Congress to take action!
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VICTORIES & GOOD NEWS ROUNDUP: Maine Legislature edition
Many bills we worked hard to pass go into effect today, and we’re taking stock of our many legislative victories. We didn’t win every battle, but Maine is in a far better position today than we have been in a long while, and we’re on our way to repairing the damage of the past 8 years. Read the latest Victories & Good News Report: Maine Legislature Edition and let your legislators know how you feel about their votes!
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DECLINE TO SIGN: Beware petitions to rollback critical legislation
Lawmakers passed a number of key bills this session that protect public health, curb environmental damage, ban conversion therapy and racial discrimination, expand abortion access, promote voter registration, and protect the rights of terminally ill patients. Efforts to repeal these laws via “people’s veto” are underway in Maine as petitioners race to collect the required signatures by Sept. 13. UPDATE 9/18: 11 of the 12 people’s veto efforts have failed. Unfortunately, anti-vaccine groups appear to have collected enough signatures to place a “people’s veto” on the ballot in March to repeal a law that strengthened childhood vaccine requirements. Click below for more details.
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FACT CHECK: Correcting Anti-Vaccine Testimony
While measles outbreaks are spreading across 22 states and Maine’s pertussis rate is the worst in the nation, our state’s non-medical vaccination opt-out rate is more than triple the national average. At the public hearing earlier this year for a law passed by the Maine Legislature to strengthen vaccination requirements for school children, false and misleading information was shared by anti-vaccination advocates. We decided to do some fact checking to set the record straight. Now that it appears a “people’s veto” will appear on the ballot in March to repeal this public health law, having these facts is more important than ever.
read more
#StrikeWithUs: Support this week’s Climate Strikes
More than 500 climate strikes are planned for this week in the U.S.–including at least 16 in Maine–in an intergenerational action to demand action on climate justice and to highlight the climate change crisis.
QUICK ACTION: Learn more and join a strike near you!
BLOCK EXTREMIST & UNQUALIFIED JUDGES: No Zealots in Lifetime Positions
We’re tracking the most concerning nominees to lifetime judicial appointments, in partnership with other progressive groups. Because Mitch McConnell slashed the time frame for reviewing nominees, many highly objectionable have been rushed through to confirmation, and others now face IMMINENT votes.
QUICK ACTION: Call Collins and King and tell them to voice their opposition to these extremist nominees facing imminent confirmation votes.
MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: That’s a wrap!
The first regular session of the 129th Maine Legislature was gaveled to a close just before dawn on June 20. Find out where the bills we’ve tracked since January ended up in this final version of the Legislature Roundup.
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DO THIS NOT THAT: Stop The Spread of False Information on Social Media
Hoaxes, fabricated stories, and misinformation spread like wildfire on social media sites.
QUICK ACTION: Learn how to identify false stories, report hoaxes, correct inaccuracies and #ProtectTheTruth with eight powerful tips.
SUPPORT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: Build Your Press Room
Trump’s attacks on the press are escalating and now a conservative group with ties to the White House is ramping up a pre-election effort to discredit reporters—and their families—at news outlets whose reporting has uncovered unflattering, unethical, and potentially illegal actions by the president, his administration, and associates. QUICK ACTION: Support the work of reputable journalists by subscribing to local and national outlets and building your own diversified press room.
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Settling the First Amendment Case Against Gov. Paul LePage
Suit Up Maine’s co-leaders Karin Leuthy and Kelli Whitlock Burton agreed to a settlement in their First Amendment censorship case against Governor Paul LePage. The terms of the settlement required administrators of the governor’s Facebook page to unblock Leuthy and Burton, create a process allowing others who have been blocked to request that their posting privileges be restored, and agree not to censor or block other constituents during Gov. LePage’s remaining time in office. Read their statement about their decision to settle the case.
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BLOCK EXTREMIST & UNQUALIFIED JUDGES: No Zealots in Lifetime Positions
We’re tracking the most concerning nominees to lifetime judicial appointments, in partnership with other progressive groups. Because Mitch McConnell slashed the time frame for reviewing nominees, many highly objectionable have been rushed through to confirmation, and others now face IMMINENT votes.
QUICK ACTION: Call Collins and King and tell them to voice their opposition to these extremist nominees facing imminent confirmation votes.
ARM YOURSELF…WITH FACTS!
Another holiday weekend in America, another 12 mass shootings. Including the massacre in Texas, those three days of mass shootings left 15 dead and 63 injured. Those opposed to gun safety quickly turned to their tired excuses for the gun violence and weak arguments against common sense gun reform. We have what you need to debunk their spin. QUICK ACTION: Check out our list of the most powerful gun violence statistics and find rebuttals to common arguments against gun safety legislation.
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MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: That’s a wrap!
The first regular session of the 129th Maine Legislature was gaveled to a close just before dawn on June 20. Find out where the bills we’ve tracked since January ended up in this final version of the Legislature Roundup.
read more
MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: That’s a wrap!
The first regular session of the 129th Maine Legislature was gaveled to a close just before dawn on June 20. Find out where the bills we’ve tracked since January ended up in this final version of the Legislature Roundup.
read more
PROTECT TITLE IX: Oppose Protection Rollbacks for Student Survivors
The Trump administration has issued new Title IX regulations that would make it harder for students who are sexually assaulted to report the assaults. More than 100,000 comments were submitted during the public comment period on the rule, with the vast majority in opposition. QUICK ACTION: Stay tuned for updates and ask Reps. Pingree and Golden to support 3 bills in the House that protect Title IX.
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CHILD POVERTY IN MAINE: Support Bill to Improve Parents’ Access to Education and Training
Maine’s child poverty rate is increasing eight times faster than the national average. A bill in the Maine legislature could help bring those numbers down by increasing parents’ access to educational and training opportunities. UPDATE: LD 1774 is now law in Maine! After receiving overwhelming support in the House and Senate, the bill became law without the governor’s signature. A huge thank you to everyone who worked on this important legislation!
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Suit Up Maine is a statewide, all-volunteer, progressive, grassroots group of more than 5,400 Mainers that seeks to create and foster a more informed and engaged electorate. We raise awareness of and advocate for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. We are beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians, and we aren’t engaged in fundraising. Suit Up Maine fosters collaboration among our state’s progressive groups and organizations to collectively connect, educate, and motivate Mainers to rise in non-violent resistance to a regressive agenda.