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.
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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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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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!
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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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.
