Good Morning Folks, it’s our second Friday in March, and in Mid Maine at least some of the ground seems workable for early plantings of hardy plants! The birds are starting to make their spring racket. There really are little miracles all around if we ask ourselves to notice them. This too is an act of resistance. Have a great weekend.
Top Action to Take Today: Support LD
1666, “An Act to Include in the Ranked-choice Election Method for General and Special Elections the Offices of Governor, State Senator and State Representative and to Make Other Related Changes” which will allow us to use Ranked Choice Voting in our Gubernatorial Race, local Senate and House races coming up this Fall. The bill passed the House in February, and now is in the Maine Senate. Please call your local Maine Senator and ask them to support this bill. It will be crucial for our Governor’s race this fall. (Correction on yesterday’s post, the bill has passed out of committee, and passed the House, and needs only one more vote and governor Mills’ signature to become law! – Thank you to Chris for catching my mistake yesterday!)
More Actions Today if You Have the Bandwidth
If you want to help unravel the Epstein files, contact Representative Maxwell Frost here about how to help crowdsource the information from these files so they are usable by congresspeople, lawyers, and survivor groups. Check out his conversation with Heather Cox Richardson here. Librarians helped us win world war 2, now it’s time they help us bring this regime down! Contact King, Collins, Pingree or Golden to demand the following in relation to the Epstein Files: Demand the DOJ release all documents legally mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, (and) call for Trump to be deposed under oath to investigate the sexual misconduct allegations detailed in the files, (and) call for public hearings and investigations into the alleged abuses revealed by the documents, (and) call for the resignations of Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Todd Blanche. For more on this please go to 5calls.org. Contact King, Collins, Pingree, and Golden to stop the funding for the Iran War. Indivisible has set up a quick email you can send to them here. They advise Congress should: assert immediate oversight, continue forcing votes on War Powers Resolutions, restrict or cut off any supplemental funding for the war, and publicly oppose the war. So far, at least 2,000 people have been killed, including 175 Iranian schoolchildren, and seven American service members. At least 140 U.S. service members have been wounded, several critically. The final tallies on both sides will almost certainly be far higher.
This war is costing a billion dollars a day that is coming from our taxes, our healthcare, + jacking up our food and gas prices. The war mongers need Democratic votes to support any further funding for this travesty of an “excursion” as Trump called it yesterday. After you email your folks, call them with the same message. Note – Jared Golden is offering a new War Powers Act in the House – the specifics seem pretty good. Ask Chellie Pingree to support this. If you haven’t yet, please email Aaron Frey Maine’s Attorney General and ask him to join Rob Bonta, California’s Attorney General in launching an anti trust suit against the companies that will be owned by one man – David Ellison – a huge Trump backer. His company will own: CBS News, Tick Tock (where 1 in 5 Americans get their news), CNN, HBO (John Oliver), and Comedy Central (John Stewart) as well as AI company Oracle. As Robert Reich points out (I have attached his post) this is a Media Monopoly, the size of which we have never seen before. An Anti-Trust suit is in order, and the States Attorney Generals can stop it. You should email Attorney
Call Senators King and Collins to urge them to support a formal conflict-of-interest review before the Paramount deal closes (around March 20th). The government must require strong data firewalls and full transparency around Oracle’s (AI firm owned by the Ellison Family) role. Serious oversight is needed—before and after the deal is closed. (Oracle’s AI will now have access to federal government data at the highest security levels. Oracle was given authorization to process government-held data including the medical records of over 150 million Americans. And back in January, the government gave Oracle “security control” over the domestic part of Tik Tok) Thank you to Shelly for this information.
Contact Senator King and thank him for standing firm on opposing funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Just because Kristie Noem is gone, doesn’t mean anything else will change unless change is forced. As recently as the end of January he has suggested separating funding for ICE + CBP from the other affected agencies such as FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the TSA. Ask him to add to the list of demands for ICE reform that the Feds cooperate with Minnesota law enforcement in the investigation into the deaths of Alex Preti and Renee Good.Contact Senator King to continue voting NO on the SAVE act HR 7296 (narrowly passed the house) – , 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. 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. Trump is threatening not to sign any bills until this act is passed!
Maine Related Actions Ask your local representative and Senator to supportLD 2176
“An Act to Create a Right to Judicial Review Under the Maine Civil Rights Act for Persons Erroneously Detained” LD 2176 aims to establish a legal framework for individuals who have been unlawfully detained during immigration enforcement actions. It seeks to ensure that these individuals can seek judicial review and recover damages under the Maine Civil Rights Act. it, and send in testimony to support it – see Contact section below to do this. From the Maine People’s Alliance: There are several bills in the Maine Legislature 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.)Contact your state representative and senator to support the 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. 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. 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
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. More details on this law here.
Contact Congressional Representatives to have ALL of the Epstein Files Released and
Support S. 2746, the Produce Epstein Treasury Records Act:
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.
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. 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. Call/email your local Representative and Senator to support, 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.
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 being prepared for ICE actions in Maine: 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.)
Keep glyphosate out of our food supply:
Contact Representative Jared Golden and urge him to cosponsor HR 7601 to protect us from glyphosate poisoning by corporations who have no interest in our health or well-being. On February 20th, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY-4) introduced HR 7601, the “No Immunity for Glyphosate Act.” Co-sponsors so far are Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1), Lauren Boebert (R-CO-4), Nancy Mace (R-SC-1), and Ro Khanna (D-CA-17). This legislation would prohibit federal funds from implementing the Executive Order Trump issued recently expanding the production of Glyphosphate and Phosphorous under the Defense Production act.
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 PoliticBruce C. has written and performed a wonderful new resistance song you can access here.Check it out and send it to your friends. Let me know if you would like to be in touch with him.
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.)
Research!
Here is an amazing resource for arguments about the First Amendment : https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-1/ But for a simple explanation see https://www.acluaz.org/news/first-amendment-101-the-freedom-of-the-press/ (Thanks Mitchell for this)
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!)
- Consider putting together a Postcarding Group – you could postcard people in Maine to encourage them to register to vote, or work on initiatives in other states where races are close. Check out Abbie McMillen’s list of options attached below.
- 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
- See Maine Related Actions Above
- 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 out of committee so the whole legislature can vote on it.
- Calendar March 28th for the next NO KINGS national mobilization
- If you know a teacher who is interested in an engaged and experiential way to teach civics, send them the flyer attached to this email. The Maine Civics Network is offering two workshops this Spring to support teachers working on Digital Literacy with their students.
- 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:
Find your State Representative: By name: Here , By District:Here
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: 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.)Support Patric Moore who is a Democrat running for State Senate in Maine District 16 by contributing to his clean election fund here and supporting seed money for his election expenses here. Patric will be running against Republican Scott Cyrway who votes party line Republican.
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.
Are you interested in helping New Mainers learn/improve their English? To sign up for English tutoring or any of our other volunteer opportunities, please visit: Capital Area New Mainers Project (CANMP) to fill out a volunteer interest survey. An English Learning option at the Waterville library at 1:00 on Mondays is also an option for volunteers. Contact CANMP for the details. You can also Donate to the Capitol Area New Mainers Project’s rapid response fund. CANMP is actively helping those affected by ICE abductions, both with legal funding and other financial support for family members.
First Saturday of Each Month: Somerset Stands Up Rallies 2:30-Margaret Chase Smith Bridge, downtown Skowhegan. Bring your signs, American flags, your voice, your friends, families and neighbors for this peaceful gathering of concerned residents of Somerset County.
Sunday, March 15th : 1:00 (and every Sunday) Bridge on KMD by the CVS Waterville: Stop the Killing, (ICE, Venezuela, USAID closing, ACA extensions dropped, etc.)
Tuesday, March 17th: 12:00-1:00 (and every Tuesday) Tesla Charging Stations at Elm Plaza, Waterville Stand with us to remind the traffic that we need to WAKE UP and start resisting the authoritarian take over of our Government. We have been at this location since Tuesday, Feb. 4th? 2025!
Wednesday, March 18th: (and every Wednesday) 12:00-1:00 Waterville, Corner of Main and Chaplin St. Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights, GRR! demonstrates every Wednesday across from Resolve, the local anti-abortion center. For more info please contact Elayne Richard at mailto:recordconnection@gmail.com
Thursday, March 19th, (And Every Thursday) Fairfield Benton Bridge 3-4 pm:….stop the coup, support Democracy, ICE OUT
SOLIDARITY*If you would like to join Maine People’s Alliance Federal Lobby Group, please contact Jim Parakilas at jamesparakilas@gmail.com. We meet Mondays at 2 pm on Zoom. With great appreciation for all the engagement everywhere! As always, throw a little sand in their gears! Emanuel
“What we would like to do is change the world — make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe and shelter themselves as God intended them to do. And to a certain extent, by fighting for better conditions, by crying out unceasingly for the rights of the workers, of the poor, of the destitute–the rights of the worthy and the unworthy poor in other words, we can to a certain extent change the world; we can work for the oasis, the little cell of joy and peace in a harried world. We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that its ever widening circle will reach around the world. We can give away an onion………We repeat, there is nothing that we can do but love, and dear God — please enlarge our hearts to love each other, to love our neighbor, to love our enemy as well as our friend.” Dorothy Day
