Maine Women's Lobby Blog » Congressman Michaud

It’s Official – The Jobs Bill is Signed into Law

asheldon — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:15:20 +0000

Thanks to the supportive votes from Maine Representatives Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud, the Jobs bill passes the House after Pelosi called House Members back for an emergency session. Thanks to the supportive votes of Maine’s Senate delegation last week, this bill was able to be considered by the house- and we are thankful they made the right decision! Why? See what the Portland Press Herald has to say below -

An additional $16 billion would extend for six months increased Medicaid payments to the states. That would free money for states to meet other budget priorities, including keeping more than 150,000 police officers and other public workers on the payroll.

Some three-fifths of states have already factored in the federal money in drawing up their budgets for the current fiscal year. The National Governors Association, in a letter to congressional leaders, said the states’ estimated budget shortfall for the 2010-12 period is $116 billion, and the extended Medicaid payments are “the best way to help states bridge the gap between their worst fiscal year and the beginning of recovery.”

Or read the whole article here.

Step Up, Man. Step Up and Change the Law

sstandiford — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:44:59 +0000

Vice President Biden didn’t mince words when he called upon reticent Senators to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act yesterday. Official after official headlined the Middle Class Task foroce event, calling for an end to pay discrimination. The Administration is in our corner on this — the House has already passed the bill, thanks to Representative Michaud and Representative Pingree. Now it’s time to call upon Senator Snowe and Senator Collins to get behind Paycheck Fairness.

Word from Portia Wu , Vice President at the National Partnership for Women and Families, from inside the event was that Lilly Ledbetter was star of the show. No surprise there! Lilly headlined an event here in March with her story about fighting pay discrimination at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

Here’s hoping she continues to pound the pavement – I mean the halls of the U.S. Senate office buildings. Meantime we’re going to do all we can in Maine to get this bill passed once and for all. As the V.P. says: “Step Up, Man!”

Denied: Women's Health

sstandiford — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:23:37 +0000

An Outrage. While we’re pleased that the health care reform bill finally passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last night, women’s health took a giant step backwards at the same time. An amendment by Rep. Stupak to the health care bill eliminates access to abortion in the so called “public option” health plan AND in subsidized private insurance plans. If this amendment stands, women would lose access to the services they have today. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree voted against the amendment, while Congressman Michael Michaud voted for it. Read a statement by Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood here. The bottom line? Women must not be second-class citizens in the new health care system. Please e-mail Congressman Michaud here to express your disappointment, and send Congresswoman Pingree a note of thanks.

Now, the debate moves to the Senate. Stay tuned….