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.
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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HANDS OFF OUR PAYCHECKS: Oppose Minimum Wage Reductions
Republican legislators in Augusta are again thwarting the will of the voters by rushing through a reduction of the minimum wage and an ageist sub-minimum wage for teens.
UPDATE: LD 1757 is legislatively dead, but Gov LePage and Republican legislators are threatening to hold other unresolved issues hostage by refusing to extend the legislative session unless a minimum wage rollback is passed.
TAXES IN MAINE: Approve Democrats’ amendment to tax conformity
Gov. LePage’s tax bill would slash taxes for corporations and the wealthy while leaving the state unable to fund important initiatives. Democrats have offered an amendment that supports working families. UPDATE 4/19: Republicans chose to leave Augusta before their work was done. A special session may be called by House and Senate leadership. Stay tuned for updates. 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 the majority amendment for LD 1655.
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MEDICAID EXPANSION: Support bill to fund Medicaid expansion
Medicaid expansion becomes the law of the land July 2, expanding critical health care to 70,000 Mainers. But Gov. LePage has stalled on funding the state’s share of expansion. 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 837.
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END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Support Batterer Intervention Program and domestic violence laws
Two bills held over from the last session would help reduce domestic violence. Both are now before the Appropriations Committee and will either be funded and sent on to the Senate for a final vote, or allowed to die on the table. QUICK ACTION: Contact members of the Appropriations Committee and tell them to fund LD 525 and LD 524 and send them to the Senate for a final vote.
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ANTI-IMMIGRANT BILL: Oppose LePage’s Expansion of ICE Power in Maine
Extremist Rep. Larry Lockman and Gov. LePage are back with another anti-immigrant bill that would force local law enforcement to serve as extensions of ICE deportation forces. The House rejected the bill today 76-65 (House roll call) and the Senate votes next. QUICK ACTION: Call your senator at 1-800-423-6900 and leave a message with her/his name, your name and town, and that you want them to NO on LD 1833.
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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.