FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Here are our Calls to Action, Guides, and Explainers on federal legislation and policy. This includes the federal budget, international affairs, national security, the Mueller investigation, and a range of other topics. Interested in helping us track federal legislation and policy? Take action with us.
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.
THE MUELLER REPORT: Reset the Narrative
The Mueller Report is finally available. Why haven’t you read it yet? There is nothing more dangerous to Trump’s re-election chances than an informed electorate.
QUICK ACTION: Turn off the pundits, put away the editorial page, and read the report as Mueller intended it to be read. Find links to versions for all platforms and print here, and plan your own book club gathering to discuss it with your friends.
#SaveTheCensus: No citizenship question on the 2020 Census
The Trump administration wants to add an untested and unnecessary citizenship question to the 2020 U.S. Census, which could discourage immigrant participation and potentially change how congressional seats are distributed among states and how federal funds for health care, education, infrastructure and more are distributed to the states. The question has been challenged in the courts and will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court April 23. QUICK ACTION: Learn more and ask your MoCs to support the 2020 Census IDEA Act.
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HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN YEMEN: End U.S. Support for Saudi-Backed War
Trump has vetoed a bipartisan resolution to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen, which has produced what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in 100 years. QUICK ACTION: Ask Representatives Pingree and Golden and Senators King and Collins to override Trump’s veto.
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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.
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RELEASE THE REPORT: Demand the full Mueller report and attend an April 4 protest
Congressional leaders from both parties have called on AG William Barr to release the full, unredacted Mueller report to Congress. So far, he has refused, offering instead to make a redacted version public by mid-April.
QUICK ACTION: Attend one of 9 #ReleaseTheReport protests in Maine on April 4 and ask your members of Congress to call Barr to testify before Congress if he refuses to give them the full report.
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.
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#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.
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.
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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!
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.