MAINE GOVERNMENT
Here are our Calls to Action, Guides, and Explainers on Maine legislation, policy, and issues. For contact information for your legislators, information on the legislative process, and to track bills in the current legislative session, visit our Legislature Roundup. Interested in helping us track state legislation and policy? Take action with us.
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.
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GUN REFORM: Maine’s New Gun Safety Bills Need Your Support
All 11 of the new gun safety bills we tracked this session were defeated in the Maine legislature this session. QUICK ACTION: Find out how your state legislators voted, and hold them accountable for their opposition and continued inaction.
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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!
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!
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MARCH FOR EQUALITY: Join a March or Rally January 18-19
Groups across Maine are planning marches and rallies Jan. 18-19 to speak out for gender, racial and social justice and equality. Join an event near you!
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Victories & Good News Roundup: Blue Wave Edition
Democrats flipped the U.S. House of Representatives and broke Republican strangleholds at the all-important state level, where redistricting decisions are made, not to mention countless laws that affect everyday life. These state and national Blue Wave wins are due in large part to the efforts of thousands of citizen activists who ran for office, worked on campaigns, educated voters, knocked on doors, made phone calls, sent postcards, and got out the vote for candidates who support a progressive agenda.
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#VoteThemOut: Defeat House Republicans who opposed Medicaid expansion
58 Maine House Republicans voted to uphold Gov. LePage’s veto of a bill to fund the first year of voter-approved Medicaid expansion in the state. QUICK ACTION: Help #VoteThemOut by volunteering for their opponents’ campaigns.
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MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: Special Veto Day Edition
The Maine Legislature is back in Augusta Monday to vote on veto overrides on 36 bills rejected by LePage last week—including a bill to fund Medicaid expansion and a ban on the harmful practice of conversion therapy—and to continue debate on bills to release clean elections funding and tax conformity. QUICK ACTION: Learn more about the bills and call your legislators TODAY and let them know how you want them to vote!
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PROTECT RANKED CHOICE VOTING: Vote YES on 1
Maine voters approved ranked choice voting in 2016 and the courts have ruled that the process can be used in the June primaries, but the fight to keep RCV is not over.
QUICK ACTION: On June 12 vote YES on Question 1 to tell the legislature that the people of Maine veto their repeal of ranked choice voting. UPDATE 6/12: Question 1 passed by 54% and will be in place for the Congressional elections in November!
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.
