You get another chance to say “I do” to marriage equality.

This afternoon, the Maine Women’s Lobby, along with our coalition partners, gathered at the state house to announce the 105,000 signatures we’ve gathered in support of a freedom to marry referendum.

Then we marched them over to the Secretary of State’s office.

This November, the ballot question will ask Mainers to support marriage for their lesbian and gay neighbors.

Today, our coalition became the first group in our nation’s history to pro-actively put the freedom to marry on a state’s ballot.

This time we get to vote YES to show our support for marriage equality!

I say I do – do you?

Sign the pledge right here to support marriage equality in Maine – and then, please share with your friends.

Let’s make history together,

They wanted to dismantle laws relating to reproductive choice, child labor, and voting rights along with keeping BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups.

Well, here we go again.

Over the past decade, Maine has been a national leader in passing successful laws to reduce mercury pollution.  Now, LePage’s administration wants to eliminate some of those laws.

Mercury-containing thermostats, lamps, vehicle switches, batteries, and lead-containing e-waste are a threat to the health of Maine people and the environment.

Mercury and lead – bad. Proper disposal – good.

The presence of these chemicals in our products and waste stream has been identified as harmful to the reproductive health of women.  Exposure to mercury through contaminated fish has been connected to a lowering of IQ in infants and young children.  Women who are chronically exposed to low-levels of lead suffer from reproductive consequences such as low birth weight and pre-term delivery.

Manufacturers should be required to take responsibility for the pollutants they create. And, that’s what these programs do.

The Department of Environmental Protection’s new report, Implementing Product Stewardship in Maine, suggests phasing out these important pollution prevention programs.

These Product Stewardship programs save taxpayers money by requiring that manufacturers share the costs of recycling to keep toxins out of the environment.

Product Stewardship programs protect Maine people, taxpayers, and the environment. There is still time to stop the DEP’s rollbacks. The DEP is accepting public comments right now. Please use this link to tell them today that you object to their recent report.

Tell them you want them to expand Maine’s product stewardship programs as a way of keeping mercury, lead, and other problem waste products out of Maine’s landfills, incinerators, air, water, wildlife and people.

Thank you,

Charlotte Warren
Associate Director

It is tough work – and often a moving target. Numbers change as you move through the process of building the budget. There are unexpected expenses – and revenues. Modification is often necessary.

Numbers change. But, where we begin doesn’t.

In order to make good decisions, we’ve all got to start from the same place.

In the last few weeks, getting your hands (let alone your head) around the Governor’s proposed budget cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services has been akin to grabbing onto smoke. It’s not possible.

Today, Mark Sullivan, from the Maine Center on Economic Policy did a great job of articulating the budget process we’ve seen so far. You can read Mark’s piece here.

Mark ends his piece with this quote: “Unfortunately, the effects of this budget proposal are more than callous.  They are real, harmful, and irresponsible.”

I would say the same about the process.

Thanks for reading,

Charlotte Warren
Associate Director

PS: Have you subscribed yet? Click here to “stay in the know”.

Throughout this past year, we fought against roll-backs to child labor laws, chemical reform protections, reproductive freedom, same-day voter registration, and the Maine Human Rights Act.

We sent you action alerts, and you sent thousands of messages to law-makers. Click on the title to read the original alert.

And the winner is (now, I know that most people start with number five, and count down to number one … and there’s a bunch of fan-fare and hoopla and suspense … but, I’m not going to do it that way).

ahem.

And the winner is…

1. beards?

February 23, 2011 – This alert was about this (now famous) quote by Governor LePage, “The only thing that I’ve heard is if you take a plastic bottle and put it in the microwave and you heat it up, it gives off a chemical similar to estrogen. So the worst case is some women may have little beards.”

The Governor’s quote referred to a proposal to roll-back the chemical policy reform that Maine has been leading the nation with. Well, you said “not so fast, Governor.” You sent over 900 messages.

You helped to stop the roll-back.

2. Governor LePage Just signed the bill…

During the session, we fought hard to protect voting rights.  You sent almost 400 messages to legislators. The bill passed, and on June 21, 2011, Governor LePage signed a bill that would eliminate same-day voting rights in Maine. A group of Maine voters immediately gathered at the offices of the Maine Women’s Lobby to file an application to veto the bill. Throughout the summer, we all fought hard to protect voting rights in Maine.  And, on election day 2011, you stood proud with the rest of the Protect Maine Voting Rights Coalition to celebrate the successful people’s veto. The law that allows voters to register and vote on Election Day stands in Maine. Burn.

3. bathroom politics

The Maine Women’s Lobby has fought for civil rights for more than three decades. The victories – and critical protections – were hard won. During this past session, legislation was proposed that would undermine the Maine Human Rights Act and invalidate critical protections for transgender, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. You sent almost 350 messages to the legislature asking them to defeat a proposal that would scale back the Maine Human Rights Act. The proposal was defeated. Oh Yeah.

4. don’t script me

We saw four bad anti-choice bills this past session. I mean big bad scary bills – the kind they pass in Texas (sorry about that to all my Texan friends). This particular piece was in response to a bill that would have required a woman to listen to a (biased) script before she could make choices about her own body. You sent over 320 messages to law-makers asking them to protect a woman’s choice of whether – and when – to have children. All four bills were defeated. We do things a little differently up here in Maine than they do in Texas (again, apologies).

5. What’s Next – Running with Scissors?

Now this one. wow. This was about the proposed roll-back to child labor laws. I know, huh?

The 1800′s called and they want their regulations back.

YOU sent 920 messages. You protected Maine laws that had existed for over one-hundred years. Mainers believe that for our youth, school is their job.

For more in the Child Labor law realm, you can read: the boss ate my homework, Is exploitation the new business friendly?, Jobz v. skool, and lots of others by visiting our online archive.

All said and done, this year alone YOU’VE sent over 3,000 messages to law-makers. GOOD JOB – and thank you. Subscribe right now.

Please contribute right now to help us continue this important work.

Please share this post, using the tools to the left. And, help us build our influence by suggesting that your friends subscribe.

Happy New Year,

Charlotte Warren
Associate Director

Lots of readers have commented, shared it on facebook, and tweeted it to their followers.

You may have seen it. It’s called, “I don’t believe in Welfare Queens.”

It was written by Emily Wagner, a Maine Women’s Lobby member. Like many of us, Emily was disheartened by some of the recent conversations surrounding the Governor’s proposed cuts to DHHS.

Why am I telling you this?

Because it’s an example of what we do.

We bring the voice of Maine women to the debate – whether in the media, the halls of the state house, or our nation’s capitol.

And, we couldn’t do it without you.

Please consider a year-end gift to the Maine Women’s Lobby right now to support our work.

For thirty-three years, the Maine Women’s Lobby has spearheaded countless legislative victories. We ensure that your voice is part of the debate – strong and clear – focusing on economic security, civil rights, health care and reproductive rights, and freedom from violence.

In fact, the Maine Women’s Lobby has been a national leader in many different arenas. We achieved the first-in-the-nation employment leave law, for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Maine Women’s Lobby advanced the first-in-the-nation legislation concerning reproductive choice, access to education and fair pay, and sexual harassment.
Support our work right now.

This past session, lawmakers proposed repealing minimum wage protections for working teens and letting them work later on school nights; rolling back our Kid-Safe Products law and keeping BPA in sippy cups; requiring government-scripted brochures for women seeking abortions; and repealing confidential access to birth control for teens. The list goes on.

You fought back. You defended the rights and protections we’ve all worked so hard to achieve.

Your continued support has made the Maine Women’s Lobby what it is today.

Now, we’re fighting dangerous budget cuts proposed by Governor LePage. We are still in defense mode.

The time is now to ensure that the Maine Women’s Lobby can continue this important work. Please donate today!

Unfortunately, not everyone can provide resources to support the issues they care about. Too many Mainers are struggling just to make ends meet. Many are unemployed – struggling to afford just the necessities. They are our neighbors, friends, and family.
And, their voices need to be heard at the State House.

If you’re blessed enough this holiday season to have a few dollars in your pocket kick in a little bit extra for the economically disadvantaged Mainers who need us to be at the State House fighting for them.

Please donate today so that the voice of Maine women is represented in every important fight as the legislature re-convenes.

——————

Many of us read Christine Rousselle’s blog post about working at Wal-Mart. While my initial reaction was angry and disheartened, I decided to turn this into an opportunity to respond in what I hope will be perceived as a constructive manner.

Dear Christine,

You and I are somewhat similar. Both of us are college-educated young women from Maine who have worked in the service industry. Granted, it was several years ago that I scanned items at Bud’s Shop ‘n Save but I too remember customers buying food that with little nutritional value or “luxury items” such as lobsters. Like you, I encountered customers who were confused about what could and could not be bought with a WIC check.

The similarities end there. Rather than choose to use judgmental anecdotal evidence to support an argument for welfare reform, I choose to look at state assistance with a bigger perspective that doesn’t include the terms “questionable clientele” or “welfare queen.”

I don’t disagree with you that reform in government-run programs is often necessary. Most organizations in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors struggle to find a system that ensures efficient use of resources and a balance of accountability to inhibit a client from potentially taking advantage of the system. This isn’t a new issue and there’s rarely an easy fix. That said, there are plenty of people who use state assistance appropriately. For you to ignore their stories does a great disservice to those who rely on WIC to feed their children, MaineCare to stay healthy and temporary assistance as a means of staying afloat.

As a student at Providence College, you have been afforded an educational opportunity that many people in Maine will never have the chance to enjoy. Instead of making disparaging assumptions about people in your home state who need help, I challenge you to do the following:

-Visit a local homeless shelter. Shelters often need volunteers for a variety of tasks, especially during the holiday season. Bring your questions as many staff members are happy to discuss homelessness and who often needs shelter and why- I bet you’ll be surprised.

-Talk to a domestic violence advocate. Violence caused by a partner is a huge problem in Maine. When someone is struggling to leave a relationship where he or she has been abused, state assistance can often provide temporary financial stability and opportunities for freedom and a new life.

-Take a tour of your local DHHS office. People need assistance for a variety of reasons in their lives, many of them out of their control. Witnessing this firsthand can be enlightening and sobering at the same time.

Lastly, I challenge you to reserve your judgment. I know how frustrating it can be when you witness people misusing funds. Unless you know them personally, it’s doubtful you know the whole story. Biased assumptions only undermine legitimate arguments about reform. Positive change requires time, energy, and an open mind but the result is a better understanding of the challenges Mainers face and how to address them in a socially and fiscally responsible way.

Sincerely,

Emily Wagner
Bangor

Yesterday, Laura and the rest of the Maine Women’s Lobby staff, members, and volunteers joined hundreds of Mainers who gathered at the State House to fight against Governor LePage’s proposed budget cuts.

Today, the hearings on these proposed cuts are continuing – and Laura is still there. Tomorrow, the hearings will continue – and Laura will be there. In fact, EVERY SINGLE HOUR that the Legislature is considering proposals that affect Maine women and the children they care for, Laura will be there.

She is your Lobbyist. She is watching, listening, and testifying for you.

In order to sustain this type of very important presence – especially in this difficult political climate – we need your help.

Can you make a year-end gift to support our work on behalf of Maine women and girls?

Your gift to the 2011 Annual Fund will help to ensure that your voice is heard.

Over the past year, your support has helped us to successfully advocate in the legislature on issues important to you. Your support has helped defend and implement the issue areas of economic opportunity, reproductive health care, violence prevention, and equal rights.

Nearly the entire package of proposed Department of Health and Human Services cuts disproportionately affects women and the families they care for, including cuts to MaineCare for working families, medical assistance for the elderly and disabled, HeadStart, childcare subsidies, crisis services, and family planning.

Said another way, women and the families they support would be the biggest losers if these proposals were to pass.

WE CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN.  

Please support the Maine Women’s Lobby today with a donation to our Annual Fund. Here’s how you can help.

1. Become a monthly sustainer. Members who give monthly provide valuable revenue we can depend on throughout the year. We save on paper and postage, and members find it’s an easy way to give. To become a monthly sustainer, please contact Kim Fleming at kfleming@mainewomen.org or 207.622.0851 ext. 25.

2. Give the gift of membership.  Support our Annual Fund by purchasing a membership for that someone special this holiday season.  They will receive a “membership welcome packet” and our Maine Women’s Lobby “MEMBER static sticker”. To arrange a gift membership, please contact Kim Fleming at kfleming@mainewomen.org or 207.622.0851 ext. 25.

3. Give right here. Right now. Just use your debit or credit card.

We can’t do this work without you. Please help us bring your voice – and the voice of those you love – to the State House!  

With your support, the Maine Women’s Lobby will seize opportunities to solve the challenges before us. Now is not the time to give up on our hard-earned advancements. Your contribution will help us move Maine forward, not backward.

Thank you for your past support, and thank you for your ongoing commitment to our work.

Charlotte Warren
Associate Director

Testimony in opposition:

Senator Rosen, Representative Flood, Senator McCormick, Representative Strang Burgess and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, my name is Laura Harper, and I represent the Maine Women’s Lobby, an organization that has been working for 33 years to improve the well-being of Maine women and girls through public policy.

Over the past week it has been difficult to analyze this proposed budget and the impact it will have on most Mainers and not feel like women are wearing the bullseye. From cuts to MaineCare for working families, to cuts to medical assistance for the elderly and disabled, to cuts to HeadStart, childcare subsidies, crisis services, the Family Reunification Program, and family planning services, nearly this entire proposal disproportionately affects women and the families they care for.

Because of a myriad of factors, women are more often than men caring for children on their own. They are more often making less money , requiring more health care for themselves and their children, and needing child care in order to maintain employment. The cuts proposed will devastate these families. 21,000 working parents, equal to the entire population of the City of Biddeford, will lose their health care. Furthermore, childless adults, over 40% of whom are women, and young adults aged 19 and 20 will lose their healthcare coverage – that’s 25,000 people. The lucky parents who do maintain coverage will lose vital services that likely affect their chances at economic prosperity including occupational therapy, dental, and vision care.

Very few families are impervious to these proposed cuts. Many Maine families include seniors and are referred to as the “sandwich” generation, with adults often caring for young children and aging parents simultaneously. A family that may have access to health insurance through an adult in the workforce may still rely on the Drugs for the Elderly and the Medicare Savings Programs for their aging parents.

Finally, many of the proposed cuts will result in a significant loss of jobs in the healthcare industry – one of the only sectors that is projected to continue to grow during our depressed economy.  Women workers continue to dominate the healthcare industry.

In truth, every single family in Maine will feel the effects of this budget; all of our insurance premiums will rise as costs are shifted to cover the increase in emergency room charity care. A rise in insurance premiums doesn’t only affect individual families; it impacts the business community as well. As we know from the joint report published last year by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Maine Development Foundation, the cost of health insurance was the number one priority indicated by Maine’s business community for the Governor and legislature to address.  I don’t think they had this proposed budget with its targeted cuts to women, children, seniors, and our most needy, in mind.

My point is that during the worst of economic times we are all looking for solutions –ways to increase job creation, encourage growth in our existing industries, and attract new employers who offer benefits and decent wages. This proposed budget can’t even be labeled short-sighted for it lacks any vision at all. It does nothing to create jobs; in fact it will facilitate job loss in the healthcare sector. It does nothing to encourage growth; in fact it stunts growth by shifting costs in insurance premiums to small businesses and middle and working class families. Furthermore, it does nothing to increase the skill-level of our workforce; indeed cutting services to working families, children, and seniors puts aspirations of technical training and higher education further out of reach for too many of our workers.

In times of crisis, our culture has often saved the women and children first. They are the backbone of our families and our future as a society. This proposal before you instead puts them last.

I urge you to oppose these cuts. Thank you for your time today.

I’d like to introduce you to our MSW Intern for the 2011-2012 academic year:
Meet Diane Scalia see (photo to the right). She is a Social Work student at the University of Maine. And, she has joined the ranks of the prestigious Maine Women’s Lobby bloggers!
See her post below, and look for more to come!
————

Dear Governor LePage,

I am writing to you, first as a citizen of the Great State of Maine and second, as a graduate student in the Social Work program at the University of Maine.

Anywhere I go, I am proud to say that I hail from a state known for its industriousness and ingenuity. Mainers—like the weather—are capable of exuding unparalleled beauty and warmth in caring for their neighbors. Conversely, our stubbornness is sometimes mistaken as indifference to those ‘from away’.

I went to high school in Lewiston. Similar to other Maine communities, Lewiston, although hard-working and culturally rich, was beginning to show signs of decay. I worked in two industries now long gone, Libby Textile Mill, and later at Stride-Rite Shoe. These industries produced some of the finest products in the world, but their workers were poorly treated, under paid, and the working conditions unhealthy and filled with chemicals.

Foreign incentives of greater profit lured these businesses away. Maine, a state known for its dedicated workforce, became the perfect target for low-wage service industries.

My point, Governor, is that we have serious social problems that require fixing.

I currently attend graduate school. I love the state of Maine and I want to be part of a solution. Here’s what I know: punishing the poor, the jobless, and the elderly does not solve the problem. Denying social services does not remove the need for them. Eradicating the programs merely shuffles the burden elsewhere.

Fixing a problem always requires examining the cause. The legislature could devote its time to attracting industries offering worker benefits and living wages. Our young people need an incentive to stay in Maine—and we need to build our tax base.

As a Mainer and a student, I am proud to be pursuing a social work degree. Through my internship with the Maine Women’s Lobby, I am energized to have the opportunity to join the conversation. I have great passion for the well-being and strength of our community.

The people of Maine are my people – are they yours?

Diane Scalia
Orono