Call to Action Archive
Suit Up Maine’s current calls to actions (C2As) 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.
Statement: Response to Maine’s election results
Flipping Maine’s Senate seat would have helped break McConnell’s log jam of obstructionism. Now that work falls to Susan Collins.
THE CASE AGAINST SUSAN COLLINS
After promising to only serve two terms, Sen. Susan Collins is now running for her fifth. That’s not the only promise she’s broken. Use this resource to look beyond the flashy ads and examine Collins’ increasingly partisan record on important issues for yourself.
Learn about Collins’ support for Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Cony Barrett, her role in the current USPS crisis, her opposition to extending additional $600 in unemployed insurance to laid-off workers, and more.
SAVE THE USPS
Trump admitted that he is sabotaging the U.S. Postal Service in order to suppress the vote.
QUICK ACTION: Learn how we got here, how Susan Collins laid the groundwork for this crisis, and what you can do to help protect our mail service and our votes.
WHAT’S NEW: Read SUM’s latest newsletter
Latest news: The For the People Act gets a vote in the Senate. And while other states have passed strict voter suppression laws, Maine is passing bills to make voting easier and more secure. We have more on that and a run-down of the latest legislative victories. Read SUM’s latest newsletter to get caught up on our current actions!
2020 Maine Legislature Roundup Recap
An early adjournment due to COVID-19 meant that many bills we were tracking in the second session of the 129th Maine Legislature were left on the table, eventually dying when efforts to reconvene for a special session were unsuccessful. Our Legislature Roundup will reconvene with the Legislature in January 2021, with dozens of bills to track in the coming session. For now, see what passed in 2020 and what was left behind.
EVERYONE COUNTS: Complete your 2020 Census!
The Trump administration is using every trick in the book to derail and devalue the 2020 Census in order to disenfranchise minority communities. This critical count of the national population determines congressional representation, legislative districts, and vital federal funding for states.
QUICK ACTION: Complete your 2020 Census now and tell Susan Collins to pass the HEROES Act.
THE CASE AGAINST SUSAN COLLINS
After promising to only serve two terms, Sen. Susan Collins is now running for her fifth. That’s not the only promise she’s broken. Use this resource to look beyond the flashy ads and examine Collins’ increasingly partisan record on important issues for yourself.
Learn about Collins’ support for Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Cony Barrett, her role in the current USPS crisis, her opposition to extending additional $600 in unemployed insurance to laid-off workers, and more.
SAVE THE USPS
Trump admitted that he is sabotaging the U.S. Postal Service in order to suppress the vote.
QUICK ACTION: Learn how we got here, how Susan Collins laid the groundwork for this crisis, and what you can do to help protect our mail service and our votes.
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. Justin Walker, a nominee to the DC Court of Appeals, opposes the ACA, unions, and civil rights and is the latest in a long line of extremist, unqualified nominees.
QUICK ACTION: Learn more about Walker’s extremist record and tell Collins and King to vote NO on his confirmation.
17 Reasons Why We Don’t Need a Wall
When Congress rebuffed his border wall demands for a third time, Trump made an end-run around them by declaring a national emergency. While all lawmakers agree that we can improve our border security, the case for wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective vanity project steeped in racial animus is as thin as tissue paper. We’ll show you why.
#FakeEmergency: Tell Congress to Override Trump’s Veto
Trump’s #FakeEmergency attempts to snatch Congress’s power of the purse, funding from military construction projects, and citizens’ private land, despite evidence that no emergency exists. Both the House and Senate have passed a bill to repeal the emergency declaration.
QUICK ACTION: Thank our Maine MoC for voting to uphold Congress’s constitutional authority, and ask them to urge more fellow legislators to join them in overriding Trump’s expected veto.
PUBLIC CHARGE RULE: Oppose Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Regulation
Trump proposed a new rule seeking to limit U.S. entry as well as visa and green card applications by low- to moderate-income immigrant families and immigrants with disabilities.
QUICK ACTION: Submit a public comment by midnight, Monday, Dec. 10 opposing this new rule.
COVID RELIEF: Support Biden’s American Rescue Plan
UPDATE: The COVID relief bill passed, with Maine’s Rep. Jared Golden joining Sen. Susan Collins and every Republican in the House and Senate in voting against the bill. QUICK ACTION: Learn how the aid package will benefit Mainers and let Golden and Collins hear from you.
2020 Maine Legislature Roundup Recap
An early adjournment due to COVID-19 meant that many bills we were tracking in the second session of the 129th Maine Legislature were left on the table, eventually dying when efforts to reconvene for a special session were unsuccessful. Our Legislature Roundup will reconvene with the Legislature in January 2021, with dozens of bills to track in the coming session. For now, see what passed in 2020 and what was left behind.
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. Justin Walker, a nominee to the DC Court of Appeals, opposes the ACA, unions, and civil rights and is the latest in a long line of extremist, unqualified nominees.
QUICK ACTION: Learn more about Walker’s extremist record and tell Collins and King to vote NO on his confirmation.
CELEBRATE EARTH: Join an Earth Day action this week!
Earth Day is April 22 and communities around the state have planned events and actions all week. QUICK ACTION: Find an event near you and take action to celebrate Earth!
PROTECT OUR WATERS: Oppose Trump’s “Dirty Water Rule”
The Trump administration has proposed widespread rollbacks to clean water protections, jeopardizing wetlands and drinking water for nearly half a million Mainers and millions of Americans. There’s just one week left to submit a public comment! QUICK ACTION: Submit a public comment opposing the rollbacks by April 15.
NO FOX IN THE HEN HOUSE: Oppose Andrew Wheeler for EPA Director
UPDATE 2/28: Andrew Wheeler was confirmed by the Senate 52-47, with both Maine senators voting NO. Former coal lobbyist and acting EPA director Andrew Wheeler has been nominated by Trump to take over the position permanently. The Senate could vote on his confirmation as early as THIS WEEK.
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.
DO THIS, NOT THAT: How To Effectively Resist Trump on Social Media
Want to know how to effectively fight Trump’s messaging on social media? Here are our Top 5 do’s and don’ts, including when it is appropriate to use the term “numb as a hake.”
17 Reasons Why We Don’t Need a Wall
When Congress rebuffed his border wall demands for a third time, Trump made an end-run around them by declaring a national emergency. While all lawmakers agree that we can improve our border security, the case for wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective vanity project steeped in racial animus is as thin as tissue paper. We’ll show you why.
#FakeEmergency: Tell Congress to Override Trump’s Veto
Trump’s #FakeEmergency attempts to snatch Congress’s power of the purse, funding from military construction projects, and citizens’ private land, despite evidence that no emergency exists. Both the House and Senate have passed a bill to repeal the emergency declaration.
QUICK ACTION: Thank our Maine MoC for voting to uphold Congress’s constitutional authority, and ask them to urge more fellow legislators to join them in overriding Trump’s expected veto.
PUBLIC CHARGE RULE: Oppose Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Regulation
Trump proposed a new rule seeking to limit U.S. entry as well as visa and green card applications by low- to moderate-income immigrant families and immigrants with disabilities.
QUICK ACTION: Submit a public comment by midnight, Monday, Dec. 10 opposing this new rule.
SUPPORT ERPO BILL: Reduce Suicide & Domestic Violence Gun Deaths
Last year’s “ERPO” bill was vetoed by Gov. LePage, but a new bill, LD 1312, has just been introduced. Extreme Risk Protection Orders reduce gun-related suicides and domestic violence homicides by temporarily suspending access to firearms for people who are a danger to themselves or others.
QUICK ACTION: Submit testimony in support of the bill and contact your legislators and Gov. Mills!
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.
Take Action: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Communities around Maine are holding events during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October to draw attention to intimate partner violence and rally support for prevention efforts. Take action and attend an event near you!
NO GUNS ON SCHOOLS GROUNDS: Oppose LD 1761
A vote on LD 1761, which would allow people to carry guns in their vehicles on school grounds, could come as early as TUESDAY.
UPDATE: The bill was voted down in the House, and is now DEAD. Great work, everyone!
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.
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.
Suit Up Maine is an independent, all-volunteer grassroots progressive group that seeks to build a more informed and engaged electorate in Maine. Founded in 2016, Suit Up Maine is run by and for Mainers, and is not engaged in fundraising of any kind. Representing thousands of constituents across Maine’s 16 counties, Suit Up Maine raises awareness of and advocates 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. Suit Up Maine is beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians.
