Good Morning Folks, it’s Tuesday and there is a lot going on in both the Maine and Federal legislatures. As will often be the case, we are surrounded by opportunities for action. If you can pick one each day that matches your sensibilities and time availability, that would be amazing! One final request – drive up the numbers for the Stephen Colbert/James Talarico interview on Youtube, which got pulled by request of the Republican led FCC!! (8.7million+ views so far, with 70,000 comments!) And, remember “State of the the Swamp” speech tonight!!!

Top Action to Take Today: 

     Sign up at Defiance.orgto boycott 

Trump’s State of the Union speech tomorrow night, and watch the “State of the Swamp” rebuttal at 7 p.m. (He will hate it if his # of watchers are diminished); See list of speakers below in the attachment. and…

.    From the Maine People’s Alliance: There are several bills that would raise the taxes on the super-rich and profitable corporations to help pay for the cuts in Federal spending for basic needs in Maine, 

These bills includeLD 1089, LD 229, and 

LD 1879, to raise taxes on individuals with incomes over $1 million, modernize our tax brackets so people who make $60,000 aren’t paying at the same tax rate as people who make $600,000, and make sure that our state collects taxes from massive corporate profits. Go 

here to write a letter to our legislative leaders. (MPA has the text for the letter, and you can personalize it.)

                                       More Actions Today if You Have the BandwidthContact Senator King  to vote NO on the SAVE act HR 7296 (narrowly passed the house this week) – , and let Susan Collins know that we oppose her support for this act. The new SAVE Act adds new requirements that voters present a proof of citizenship both when registering to vote and when casting a ballot – 5calls.org has more on this.  This act will go into effect IMMEDIATELY upon Trump signing it, and will affect the 2026 mid-terms. (I believe it only applies to Federal elections.) While you are at it, let them know  to vote No on the MEGA Act, HR 7300 both of which are voter suppression efforts. .  “Make Elections Great Again” (MEGA) would ban mail in ballots, limit absentee voting Go to 5calls.org for more information and a script for this call/contact.  Contact your state representative and senator to support these bills to restore Wabanaki Sovereignty:   These two bills were heard in front of the Judiciary Committee, and there has not been a report out of the Committee so far. Ask your reps to contact their friends on the Judiciary Committee to support these two bills.

LD 395, “An Act to Restore Access to Federal Laws Beneficial to the Wabanaki Nations”, would amend the law to allow the Wabanaki tribes (and the Mi’kmaq Nation) to benefit from existing and future federal laws that already apply to the 570-plus other federally recognized tribes. Get a copy of the bill here.

LD 785, “An Act to Enact the Remaining Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act”, which would restore the Wabanaki Nations’ inherent right to self-govern under the same federal laws that apply to tribes elsewhere in the United States. Get a copy of the bill here.

Together, these two acts would put the Wabanaki Nations on equal footing with most, if not all, of the other Native American tribes in our country. Go here for a toolkit from the Wabanaki Alliance on taking action on these bills. 

From the Maine League of Women Voters: here’s your annual reminder to check for Clean Elections on your tax return. It’s quick and easy and helps to finance the election campaigns of qualifying Clean Election candidates. Clean Elections allow candidates to focus on the voters, not wealthy donors. Learn more here.  On the Maine Income Tax Form, Line 1, check a box to designate $3 to the Maine Clean Election Fund. If you’re using tax assistance software to file your taxes, like TurboTax, it may prompt you with the Clean Elections question automatically, making it even easier to check yes! Checking yes on the form does not impact your tax bill or refund in any way. If you already acted on the above yesterday go here to support Sexual Abuse Survivors:

Ask your Congressional Representatives to co-sponsor and support “Virginia’s Law”, a billthat would  remove the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to sexual abuse and trafficking. This law, named after Virginia Guiffre an Epstein abuse survivor and outspoken advocate for justice,  would empower survivors by giving them a legal means to seek justice with not expiration date. Given the horrendous treatment survivors have gotten through the unreacted release of their names in the current Epstein Files release, this is a small step Congress can take to redress the harm done. More details on this in the Guardian.

    Child care is a huge issue for working parents in Maine.  Contact your local Representative and Senator and ask them to support: LD 1955 will provide $15 million in ongoing funding for the Child Care Affordability Program.

LD 2066 will make the Child Care Affordability Program Educator Employment Award permanent. This will ensure that current employees at licensed childcare programs receive tuition support and will help to both recruit and retain qualified staff.

LD 1414 will increase infant and toddler payment rates through the Child Care Affordability Program for eligible families.To use the MPA’s Action Network to write a letter to your Rep and Senator on these supports for childcare in Maine go here. Remember Quality Child Care for all is great for the economy!!!!

Epstein Files Related Actions

Contact Congressional Representatives to have ALL of the Epstein Files Released and 

Support S. 2746, the Produce Epstein Treasury Records Act: 

: Congressman Rho Khanna has demanded that Epstein’s associates named in these files be investigated by Congress, even though Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General + former personal Trump lawyer, has said that the case is over, and “it isn’t a crime to party with Mr. Epstein.” In this most recent release, the DOJ did not redact the name of many survivors and allowed nude pictures of them to be included.  This is beyond disgusting. More on this at Democracy Now

 For a script and more information go to 5calls.org. So far not a single perpetrator named in these files has been prosecuted.Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee (that oversees US banking) has been demanding access to Epstein’s finances. To this end, he introduced S. 2746 (the Produce Epstein Treasury Records Act), which would require the Secretary of the Treasury to produce suspicious activity reports relating to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. Republicans are currently blocking this bill. Call Senators King and Collins to urge them to cosponsor S. 2746 and to support the bill with members of the Senate Finance committee where the bill resides currently.

ICE related Actions    Call or write Senator King and Collins and ask them to vote against funding ICE and CBP in the appropriations bill that is currently waiting for approval – 60 votes needed. More details on this at 5calls.org.     There is a move afoot to tax corporations who wish to build ICE prison camps in Maine at a higher level than regular corporate tax to offset the demands on local resources. Along with simply disallowing these camps through local zoning action and public outcry, cutting into the profit margin of these businesses is another way to dissuade them from trying to settle in Maine. ICE has 45 billion dollars to build/rent/purchase prison camp facilities – see a full report on this 

here from the Brennan Center.
Contact our Congressional Representatives to: Claw back the 175 BILLION dollar slush fund that was approved in the “OBBA”(The Budget Bill Passed this Summer), for Immigration enforcement actions over the next four years. Collins + King both voted in favor of the Sanders Amendment which clawed back 75 Billion from ICE and CBP. Thank them for this, and then ask them to clawback this funding, and defund ICE and CBP until they meet standards of conduct for police professionals. For more information and a script go to 5calls.org for defunding ICE, and here for the 175 Billion Dollar Clawback. On Jan. 29, at 1 pm the Maine legislature’s Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on an emergency bill, LD 2106 “An Act to Prohibit the Disclosure of Nonpublic Records Without Proper Judicial Review” to make sure ICE can’t enter private spaces in hospitals, schools, and childcare centers (learn more here ).  MPA has an ACTION TOOLKIT on this bill here.  You can still submit testimony on this bill here.Maine’s Attorney General Aaron Frey has started an ICE tip-line Citizens are urged to report intimidating and excessive federal enforcement behavior to CitizenReporting.OAG@maine.gov. “Emailers should be advised that any content sent may be subject to public dissemination under Maine’s Freedom of Access Laws.

”The Maine Immigrant’s  Rights Coalition has set up a resource hub on responding to ICE.  If you see what you identify as an ICE vehicle in your town call the ICE Watch hotline in Maine:207 544 9989. You can also text them a photo of what you believe to be an ICE vehicle, or any ICE actions in your area.

There are now 140 co-sponsors of a bill to impeach Kristi Noem, Head of the Department of Homeland Security, ask Pingree and Golden to cosponsor! 

Activate Maine has an ICE toolkit including links to sign up for ICE verifier and de escalation trainings.If you want to get more involved check out 

this training manual for becoming an ICE verifier.

The Maine ACLU has a page on preparation for ICE invasion: go here. 

Other resist ICE resources: Resources from the Democracy Security Project:  Printable De-Escalation Pocket Guide  Printable Protest Pocket Guide       Other DSP Resources Finally, consider volunteering and/or donating to one of the worthy immigrant support organizations listed below: 

 Capital Area New Mainers Project, Mainers for Humane Immigration, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, (all Maine based), and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, go here to donate to the Capital Area New Mainers Project. Environmental Actions

LD 1870, the climate superfund bill was passed out of committee!  Next it’s headed to the Senate for a vote.  If you support this important legislation, please continue to contact your legislators about LD 1870 and urge them to Make Polluters Pay!   To learn NRCM’s priority bills for this short session,check their YouTube channel  Check out  https://www.nrcm.org/events/  (thank you Linda for this info.)

ACA Related Actions

Call/write Senators King and Collins to support extending the ACA tax credits as the House did on January 8th.  The House’s version is a “clean” extension with no amendments.  The Maine People’s Alliance makes this really easy, go here. If you wish to write your own note or call, our Senator’s  contact information is below in the Contact Information part of this email. For more information go to 5calls.org. For a full toolkit on how to support this action  go here. This bill passed in the house!!Boycott: Being a consumer is one of the greatest powers we have as members of a capitalist economy.   For a complete list of ICE related boycotts go to https://www.resistandunsubscribe.com/ a new website that lists and explains all the corporations that are directly enabling the Trump administration’s nasty policies and/or helping ICE and CBP: (Thanks Shelly for this link)  Another resource on Boycotting – Scott Galloway’s podcast – Raging Moderates, discusses boycotting TechBro products at about 14:30 into the podcast, go here. (thank you Wendilee for this)

Mutual Aid

ActivateMaine has created a site, SNAP Into Action: “a statewide effort to help those who are affected by the freezing of benefits due to the Government shut down.”   Activate Maine also has a Mutual Aid page with lots of resources.

Heating Assistance:  If you have friends, neighbors, or need support for Heating Assistance, Li Heap funds have been authorized for Maine, Click here to learn more about applying for LIHEAP assistance. 

Insurance Crisis:  The ACA cuts are in the Senate to be voted on. Please contact Esther at the Maine People’s Alliance who is collecting personal testimony to support the passage of the ACA tax cuts. 

ICE Related Mutual Aid: Both documented and undocumented immigrants are staying home in Maine, scared to leave the house to go shopping, bring their children to school, go to Dr’s appointments etc. You can help go here to find out how.

Arts and Politics!

If you live near Skowhegan check out Kevin James Studios at 127 Water Street for a whole gallery of resistance art!  (Let me know if you know of other art galleries showing political art and I will list them here.)Attached below is a poster for anyone who wishes to display it in their home, office, on demonstrations, protests, vigils. Thanks to Catie for creating this beautiful piece of activist art

Research!

Learn more about Chenoweth’s 3.5% rule – go to one or more of these links: Wikipedia:    BBCHarvard:

The Resource Alliance . (Thank you Beth for these links!) Get connected to Govtrack.US for daily information on what’s going on in Congress in terms of bills and votes.

GOT MORE TIME? HERE ARE SOME MORE ACTIONS  (just pick one!)

• Join the Maine People’s Alliance in bringing your story to our Congresspeople: Are your insurance rates going up? Did you lose SNAP benefits – the MPA wants to hear your story and use it to fight for Mainers in the ongoing shutdown budget battle. Fill out this form and tell your story here. 
• Consider volunteering and/or donating to one of the worthy immigrant support organizations listed below:  Capital Area New Mainers Project, Mainers for Humane Immigration, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, (all Maine based), and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, go here to donate to the Capital Area New Mainers Project.

State Wide Actions

• LD 1383, An Act to Require State Divestment from Perpetrators of International Human Rights Violations has been tabled by the Committee on State and Local Government due to claims that it is anti-semitic, despite support from Jewish action groups. Call your state Senator and Representative to support this bill. Go here for more information on this bill. Write a letter here to the State and Local Government Committee to pass this bill.
• Calendar March 28th for the next NO KINGS national mobilization
• There is a special election in Lewiston TODAY, February 24. Democrat Scott Harriman is running for the House.  If you live in Lewiston, please get out and vote!!
• Support LD 2106 to prevent ICE + CBP from entering private spaces in Schools, Hospitals, Libraries and Daycare Centers. There is an ACTION TOOLKIT on this bill here.  You can still submit testimony on this bill here.
• LD 1955 will provide $15 million in ongoing funding for the Child Care Affordability Program.
• LD 2066 will make the Child Care Affordability Program Educator Employment Award permanent. This will ensure that current employees at licensed childcare programs receive tuition support and will help to both recruit and retain qualified staff.
• LD 1414 will increase infant and toddler payment rates through the Child Care Affordability Program for eligible families.To use the MPA’s Action Network to write a letter to your Rep and Senator on these supports for childcare in Maine go here.
• LD 1870, the climate superfund bill  would impose penalties on major climate polluters, specifically fossil fuel companies, to help fund climate resilience efforts in the state. 
• Mid Maine Indivisible has a great weekly newsletter – To sign up: go here. Indivisible Bangor has a great daily newsletter and actions go here to sign up. If you are in the Mid Coast area consider joining Audacity – learn more here. The Bold Coast Civic Alliance has a newsletter as well as the Hancock County Democrat.   Cumberland County Indivisible newsletter go here.  Greater Portland Indivisible, go here. We are developing a great ecosystem for resistance communications in Maine.

Find Your State Senator: By name:

Here , By district: Here

Find your State Representative: By name: Here , By District:Here

New:

For Maine State Legislative Calendar day by day go  here

For links to US Legislative Calendars go here

Check complete bill listing  here.                                                     
Find the text of any bill here                                                                                      

Instructions for testifying are here 

LOCAL ACTIONS: The local Democratic Caucus will be this Saturday, February 28th, 1-3 pm at the UU Church, 69 Silver Street, Waterville, Sign up Here. For other caucuses in Kennebec County and around the state, go here.Ready to get involved in March 28th No-Kings 3 Day?  For the Waterville Area event, sign up 

here. Go to the same link to sign up for demonstrations in other areas. If you are interested in being a march leader, contact Elizabeth at leonardelizabeth1957@gmail.com. (We are looking to have converging marches from different parts of town.)

Join Mid Maine Indivisible(Kennebec and Somerset Counties) Please join us if you are in the Mid Maine area.  To sign up: go here. The Capital Area New Mainers Project is collecting furniture and kitchen supplies for families in our area. They are helping a family who lost everything in a house fire – you can contribute 

here to this fund. 

. To donate fill out the form here.

There is a community member who is looking to provide home cleaning services in the Waterville area for $25 an hour. 

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