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.
ADA ACCESSIBILITY ROLLBACKS: Protect the Americans with Disabilities Act
A bill that would roll back accessibility rules required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed the House last week–with Rep. Poliquin voting YES–and is headed to the Senate.
QUICK ACTION: Call Poliquin to protest his vote and call Sens. Collins and King and tell them to oppose any attempt to bring the bill for a vote.
CHIP: Pass Clean Reauthorization NOW
The reauthorization of CHIP is now being used as a bargaining tactic in the debate over the government shutdown. A vote is expected on Jan. 22 that may resolve the issue.
UPDATE: As part of a bipartisan deal, CHIP has been reauthorized for six years.
TRUMP TAX SCAM: Health Care Edition
To pay for tax cuts for corporations and the rich, the Senate tax plan will slash Medicaid and Medicare funding and repeal the ACA individual mandate, likely leading to a collapse of the health care markets. Call Sen. Collins (202-224-2523) and tell her to vote NO on any tax bill that cuts health care to fund tax cuts to the rich.
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END THE SHUTDOWN: Pass a Clean CR to Re-Open Government
The Senate will vote Thursday on two bills to re-open the government: One would fund Trump’s border wall and block asylum requests from children from some Central American countries and the other is a clean continuing resolution the Senate already passed 100-0.
QUICK ACTION: Tell Collins and King to pass a clean CR and re-open the government now!
Ten Reasons Matthew Whitaker Should be Out of DOJ
Former Acting AG Matt Whitaker has a background overrun with fraud, scams, dark money payments, conflicts of interest, and other potentially illegal activity.
QUICK ACTION: Tell your MoC that Matt Whitaker has no business working in the Department of Justice and to demand answers about his background before considering him for any other position at DOJ.
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN YEMEN: End U.S. Support for Saudi-Backed War
U.S. military and financial participation in Yemen’s civil war is contributing to what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in 100 years. The Senate passed a resolution to end U.S. support for the war. The new Democratic-controlled House will take up the measure in January. QUICK ACTION: Thank Collins and King for their support of S.J. Res. 54 and ask Pingree and Rep-Elect Golden to support the measure in January.
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TRAIN. RUN. WIN. Apply for Emerge Maine Class of 2019
The number of progressive women running for office in Maine and around the country is breaking records, thanks in part to programs like Emerge Maine that train women how to run for office.
QUICK ACTION: Apply for the 2019 Emerge Maine class and join the ranks of women working to change the political landscape.
READY. SET. VOTE: Prepare for the June 12 Maine Primaries
Maine’s June 12 primaries are just around the corner and the field of Democratic candidates for governor and U.S. representative for CD2 is large. Maine will also use ranked-choice voting (RCV) in the primary, the first state to use RCV in a statewide election.
QUICK ACTION: Check our event list for candidate forums and RCV trainings.
TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS: Tell legislators to finish what they started
All but 2 House Republicans forced an early end to the legislative session in mid-April by refusing to extend the session by 5 days so that the Legislature could finish its work. The Legislature returns Wednesday, May 2, to vote on a number of bills recently vetoed by the governor and another vote to extend the session. QUICK ACTION: If your legislator voted no before, call her/him ASAP and demand a YES vote on an extension so they can finish what they started.
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COAL LOBBYIST NOMINATED TO EPA: Oppose Andrew Wheeler for EPA Deputy Adminsitrator
Long-time coal lobbyist and climate-change denier Scott Wheeler is up for the second most powerful post at the EPA. With EPA secretary Scott Pruitt’s job on the line, the Senate confirmation vote is more critical than ever. UPDATE 4/12: WHEELER WAS CONFIRMED, with Collins voting yes and King no.
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KEEP THE COAST CLEAR: Oppose Offshore Drilling in Maine
The Trump administration wants to open most of the U.S. coastline to oil and gas exploration, including Maine. Our congressional delegation as well as the Maine legislature unanimously oppose the plan.
QUICK ACTION: Attend a public hearing in Augusta on Wednesday, March 7 and submit a public comment before the March 9 deadline.
DENY CLIMATE CHANGE DENIERS: Oppose Kathleen Hartnett White Nomination
Trump’s nominee to be the nation’s top environmental watchdog calls carbon dioxide a “plant nutrient” and says climate change poses no threat to the environment.
QUICK ACTION: Tell Senators Collins and King to OPPOSE Kathleen Hartnett White’s nomination to lead the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality. UPDATE: The White House has WITHDRAWN White’s nomination in the face of fierce opposition by senators, constituents, and environmental advocates.
WHOSE NEWS? Take Back Control of Your Facebook News Feed
Facebook recently changed the way users see posts in their News Feed, choosing the content THEY think you should see first. As a result, you may be missing important posts, updates, events, and calls to action.
QUICK ACTION: Take back control of your news feed in a few easy steps.
SINCLAIR PROPAGANDA: Fight Back Against Far-Right Control of Local TV
Ultra-conservative Sinclair Broadcasting Group forces its affiliates to air “must run” segments that attack the press and promote pro-Trump propaganda, and is about to expand its reach to 7 out of 10 American homes.
QUICK ACTION: Tell Maine’s Sinclair-owned stations, WGME CBS 13 and WPFO FOX 23 (207-797-1313), that you refuse to watch propaganda, and ask your Rep to support HR 3478, limiting the number of stations Sinclair could own.
AMPLIFY YOUR VOICE: Turn your opinion into a letter to the editor
Social media is a terrific tool for sharing our views and concerns, but we sometimes only reach like-minded people. Learn to transform those concerns into a letter to the editor so that you can reach a more diverse audience in your community. We’ll help you!
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#WearOrange: Attend Gun Violence Awareness Events June 1-2
The only way the issue of gun violence will be addressed is if people who care continue to demand action through election day and beyond. #WearOrange Weekend begins June 1st, with events all over Maine.
QUICK ACTION: Attend one near you, arm yourself with the sharpest facts, and support the gun violence prevention groups doing the heavy lifting!
ARM YOURSELF…WITH FACTS!
Need quick access to facts to fight back against gun nonsense? We’ve built you a war chest.
Check out our list of the most powerful gun violence statistics and find rebuttals to common arguments against gun reform. Take your weapons into battle and win!
SUPPORT “RED FLAG” BILL: Reduce Suicide & Domestic Violence Gun Deaths
A bipartisan “red flag” bill would help reduce gun-related suicides and domestic violence homicides by temporarily suspending access to firearms for people who are a danger to themselves or others. UPDATE 4/19: Republicans chose to leave Augusta before their work was done. A special session may be called by House and Senate leadership.
QUICK ACTION: Contact your legislators and tell them you expect them to finish the work we sent them to Augusta to do, including voting YES on LD 1884.
DEFEND MAINE’S TEACHERS: Support “Dime A Dozen” Fundraiser
Gov. Paul LePage recently downplayed the importance of teachers, calling them a “dime a dozen.” Voice your opposition to these comments and support efforts to assist new and existing teachers.
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MAINE EDUCATION FUNDING: Tell Legislature to Honor Will of the Voters
Republicans in the legislature are balking at the voters’ repeated demand that the state fund 55% of the public school budget. Demand that the will of the voters be heard by attending the Fund Our Damn Schools rally in Augusta on Wednesday, May 31 and contacting your legislators to make sure they know that 55% state funding is critical to our state’s future.
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HOLD DEVOS ACCOUNTABLE: Oppose Discrimination in Education
In a recent budget hearing in the House of Representatives, Betsy DeVos indicated that she would not be opposed to allowing schools that engage in discrimination to receive federal funding. Contact Betsy DeVos, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, and your Members of Congress to let them know that this is unacceptable and that taxpayer money should never be given to schools that discriminate against any group of students or staff.
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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.