Statements, Op-Eds, and Testimony

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 all Maine constituents, 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.

Many Mainers are done wasting their time on lawmakers who refuse to engage authentically with their constituents, who vote against their interests, then falsely paint dissatisfied constituents with valid concerns as an “angry mob.” We are done begging them to perform their sworn duties to provide checks and balances and uphold ethical standards. We don’t have time for that.

Senator Collins has made her decision and will support Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination. She has long called herself a moderate and a defender of women. With this decision, she showed Mainers and the nation that she is no moderate and certainly no champion of women.

Having watched the testimony and read statements and affidavits related to charges of sexual assault and misconduct by Brett Kavanaugh, we are more certain than ever that reopening Judge Kavanaugh’s background investigation is of critical importance.

According to a staffer for Sen. Susan Collins, the majority of calls her staff are fielding on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh have been civil. Angry and frustrated, perhaps. But civil. You’d never know that from recent statements and comments by the senator and her staff.

Some 28 groups representing tens of thousands of Maine residents joined together to urge Senator Susan Collins (R) to vote NO on the GOP tax bill. A vote is scheduled for Tuesday. These groups represent constituents who are concerned about the inordinate amount of tax breaks for wealthy corporations and individuals on the backs of the middle class. Karin Leuthy, of Suit Up Maine, states “Only 29% of Americans approve of this tax bill because it will increase taxes and result in the loss of health care for millions of people. Senator Collins knows her constituents have educated themselves about this bill and resoundingly oppose it. We are asking her to vote no.”