A Good Day for Politics!

On Wednesday, California’s federal court overturned the state’s ban on gay marriage in a historic step towards equality. The California judge, Vaughn Walker, found that the ban violated the 14^th Amendment’s rights to equal protection under the law. “Fundamental rights,” he said, “may not be submitted to a vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections.” Executive director of EqualityMaine, Betsy Smith, called the ruling “a validation of what we’ve known for a long time, that denying same-sex couples the right to marriage is unfair, unjust and unconstitutional.”

Not only is this an exciting step for same-sex couples across the country, it also reveals the extraordinary power of just a few voices speaking for social change – the case was brought forward by two gay couples. And now it will begin its journey through the legal world until it reaches the high and mighty Supreme Court.

But wait…there’s more!

It’s time to get out our thank-you notes once again. Sens. Snowe and Collins supported a $26 billion funding bill to provide helpful aid for states to fund education and Medicaid. In Maine, this means about $77 million to the state’s General Fund and an additional $39 million for local aid to help school districts in need and protect teachers’ jobs. The spending package provides a much-needed supplement to the state budget  to go towards programs that disproportionally benefit women. Find out more here.