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.

Hot off the press: A new study shows that two-thirds of employers support nation’s first paid sick days law

Strengthening the case for new paid sick days laws in Maine and across the country, a research study has found significant benefits for workers and minimal impact on businesses from the nation’s first paid sick day law, enacted in 2007 in San Francisco. Two-thirds of employers surveyed there support the law and six in seven employers say that paid sick days have had no negative effect on profitability.  The law has provided paid sick leave to additional 59,000 workers – 17% of the city’s entire workforce — who did not previously have it.

The findings, from the independent, non-partisan Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) are building new momentum for efforts to enact paid sick days across the U.S.

This data –from businesses large and small – shows paid sick days is not a significant threat to the bottom line and that employees use it responsibly. This report further discredits attempts by opponents of this family-friendly legislation to scare the public about its impact on business.

Under the San Francisco Paid Sick Leave Ordinance (PSLO), any part- or full-time employee who works in the city—even for a company that is based elsewhere—earns one hour of paid sick time for every thirty hours worked. Workers can accumulate a maximum of nine days in firms with more than 10 employees and five days in smaller firms. Workers begin to accrue leave 90 calendar days after the date of hire. Leave may be used for workers’ own illness, injury, health conditions, and medical appointments, and to care for family members or a “designated person.”

According to the IWPR report, more than half of covered employees reported some benefit due to the law, and one out of four workers reported that they were better able to care for their own and their families’ health.

The study found that workers used the law responsibly. The median worker used just three sick days per year, well below the cap, suggesting that workers view paid sick days as a form of insurance – a valuable benefit when illness strikes, but to be saved for use as needed. Employers don’t wind up paying for the full number of sick days a worker may have earned.

The report, San Francisco’s Paid Sick Leave Ordinance: Outcomes for Employers and Employees by Robert Drago, Ph.D., and Vicky Lovell, Ph.D., was based on surveys of over 700 employers and nearly 1,200 employees in San Francisco.

And, the first order of business of Maine’s new legislative leadership may be to eliminate the Labor Committee – the committee that serves the needs of women workers.

The Labor Committee has existed in the Maine Legislature continuously since 1887 (yes, that’s right – over 120 years)!

Members of the Labor Committee make decisions about unemployment, equal pay, enforcement of wages, family and medical leave, overtime laws, sick leave, minimum wage, and hundreds of other issues.

The Labor Committee is the only committee devoted to the rights, benefits, and protections of working people. It’s the one place designed to ensure workers’ voices are heard.

Eliminating the Labor Committee is bad policy, it’s bad precedent, and, frankly, it’s insulting to the hundreds of thousands of Maine people who get up and go to work every morning.

And, the new leadership is trying to do this as quickly as possible with very little debate.

We need you to take action & quickly. Here’s what you can do (talking points are below):

1. Call the Senate Republican Office (287.1505) and the House Republican Office (287.1440) to leave a message for Senate and House Republican leadership to ask them to oppose eliminating the Labor Committee.

2. Please call your own State Representative and State Senator to ask them to oppose eliminating the Labor Committee.

When you call, you can say something like:

Hi, my name is______________. I’m calling from ______, and I’m calling today to ask ________ to oppose eliminating the Labor Committee. The Labor Committee is a key committee for issues of importance to working people; it has existed continuously since 1887, and I see no reason to eliminate it.

Thank you for taking this very important action today,

Charlotte Warren
Associate Director

PS: Workers cant wait! Spread the word:

Click here to tweet about it: http://clicktotweet.com/EA8nt.

Or, make this your Facebook status for the day: Make sure workers have a voice! Tell leadership not to eliminate the Labor Committee.

You can also add this as a link, using our archive page here: http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6024/blastContent.jsp

Maine Women’s Lobby Responds to Vote to Defeat Paycheck Fairness Act

Statement of Sarah Standiford, Executive Director, Maine Women’s Lobby

“The failure of the U.S. Senate to proceed to an up-or-down vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act has jeopardized the economic standing of Maine’s women, and the families that they support. The Maine Women’s Lobby is disappointed that Senator Snowe and Senator Collins refused to support the cloture motion on Paycheck Fairness.

“The principles of fairness and equity were set back today. Unfortunately, so was the Nation’s economic recovery. Recent U.S. Census data demonstrates that the gender wage gap is widening in Maine. Women in Maine are now earning just 77 cents to a man’s dollar. The bill would have provided grants to improve women’s ability to negotiate for equal pay and deterred discrimination by strengthening penalties for equal pay violations (bringing them on par with other civil rights violations). It was designed also to provide greater levels of wage transparency, allowing employees to discover instances of employer discrimination.

“Even though 84% of Americans support these new tools to promote equal pay, unfortunately today, the U.S. Senate failed to stand up for the needs of working women.

“The recovery of the American middle class begins and ends with well-paying jobs, but that cannot happen if women are bringing home less and less each year. Women are increasingly the sole breadwinners for their families. That means equal pay is not just a matter of fairness—but also the key to a family’s ability to make ends meet.

“The question before Maine women is now: How long will we have to wait for fair pay?”

The Maine Women’s Lobby is a non-partisan, non-profit, membership organization working since 1978 to increase opportunities for women and girls through advocacy and legislative action. www.mainewomen.org

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So, I started asking around … and here are some reflections from the women of the Maine Women’s Lobby:

Director of Public Policy, Laura Harper, and some of her lobbyists cohorts.

Here’s what Laura had to say:

I feel certain that my experiences lobbying for marriage equality will never be matched. Every day, I came out to legislators. I shared with them my commitment for my partner, Lauren, our engagement, and the fears and discrimination I have faced during our partnership because we can’t get married.

It was a rush. It was exhausting. It was scary. It was joyful.

When the Governor signed the bill into law, I was waiting with other advocates outside his office. When a member of his staff discreetly stuck her head around the door and whispered, “He signed it,” I knew I was a part of Maine history. I knew it would be a moment I would never forget, similar to when President Obama was elected or when we finally passed the anti-discrimination law in Maine.

I will return to that moment again and again. There will always be a part of me that will never age, there will always be a young woman standing there in her little suit with her sweaty armpits and rumpled tissue thinking, “Oh my God, we’ve actually won.”

Here’s Sarah, our Executive Director:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s Kim Simmons, one of our board members:

The highlight of the 124th Legislative session, for me, was the passage of the Marriage Equality Bill!  I am impressed with the cooperation that emerged in the 124th Legislature and with the fact that our leadership is female. Nevertheless, I was disappointed not to see more radical and progressive action taken to redistribute wealth in our state, to protect the poor, and to address the absence of paid sick leave which creates both the potential for a public health crisis and family emergencies on daily basis. It seems to me that we have a unique moment to truly push for tax policy that is rooted in social justice priorities and reflects the interests of most Maine people, and I hope that more progressive and innovative thinking will emerge in the second session of the 124th!

Charlotte at the State House

And, here’s what I think:

So, when I think back on the 124th session of the Maine Legislature, my first thought is, “phew … it’s over.” And don’t get me wrong, I love the excitement of the session. I love the exhilaration of the wins – and the opportunity of the losses. And, I guess in a lot of ways I would describe this past session as a roller-coaster ride – we were up, we were down, we were recessed, we were tabled … Oh yeah, I was paying attention to the play-by-play afforded to us by Laura, her Blackberry, and Twitter … and I was addicted! Check out our newsletter archive to review the roller-coaster ride.

So, enough about us. What do you think? Add your reflections today.

PS: Yes, “phew” is actually a word. It’s in the dictionary and everything.

Thanks everyone,

Charlotte

Today, I spent my afternoon at the offices of Hardy Girls Healthy Women in Waterville. We were invited to share the nuts and bolts of creating change. (and when I say nuts and bolts, I really do mean problem, solution, message, and target).

These girls are the experts! The changes that they are already creating in their communities – and their schools – are amazing. We talked about transforming empty buildings into community centers, instituting curbside recycling, and working on the school consolidation bill.

These young women meet once a month on a Sunday afternoon as part of the Girls Advisory Board (GAB), a program of Hardy Girls Healthy Women.

yep, these girls rock … and Hardy Girls Healthy Women rocks too! Thanks for doing your great work.

“the sooner we act, the better off  we will be.

“America needs a basic workplace standard that allows employees to earn …up to seven paid sick days a year.” Debra’s reminding us that, in the wake of the H1N1 virus, CDC asks people to stay home if they fill ill. Millions of Americans don’t have that option. She’s announcing new research by Human Impact Partners on the public health impact of paid sick days!!

only 15% of food service workers have sick days. half of stomach flu outbreaks caused by food service workers? yikes!

To honor Dr. Tiller, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the Family Planning Association of Maine, the Maine Women’s Lobby and the Maine Civil Liberties Union will hold a candlelight vigil Thursday, June 4th, at Monument Square in Portland. The vigil will begin at 7:00 pm. Speakers from the faith and women’s health communities will offer remarks to honor the memory of Dr. Tiller.

WHAT and WHERE: Candlelight vigil to honor Dr. Tiller in Monument Square, Portland

WHEN: Thursday, June 4, 2009 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

WHO: Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Family Planning Association of Maine, Maine Civil Liberties Union, and Maine Women’s Lobby.

Check out the media about the event:

WMTW

Portland Press Herald

FOX4KC.COM (A Kansas television station)

(Augusta) Today in a news release, organizations representing Maine people celebrated the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“In selecting Judge Sotomayor to be his nominee to the highest court, President Obama has chosen someone who is superbly qualified and has outstanding legal credentials,” said Sarah Standiford, Executive Director of the Maine Women’s Lobby. “Moreover, Judge Sotomayor comes to the position with an unparalleled level of experience – three decades of experience at all levels of the law.”

Members of the Maine’s Fair and Independent Federal Courts Coalition lauded the historic nomination-and the wealth of experience that Judge Sotomayor would bring as a woman and as the nation’s first Latina nominee. Sonia Sotomayor grew up in the South Bronx, the daughter of parents from Puerto Rico. Despite the challenges her family faced, Judge Sotomayor attended Princeton and Yale Law School, served as an Assistant District Attorney, worked as a corporate litigator in a New York law firm, and went on to become the first Latina appointed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Over a career that spans three decades, Judge Sotomayor has worked at almost every level of the judicial system and brings an understanding of how the law affects the lives of every-day Americans.  

Said Kim Moody, Executive Director of the Disability Rights Coalition, “Maine’s Senators will have a critical role to play in the confirmation of this Supreme Court Justice. The confirmation process will allow the Senate and the American people the opportunity to learn even more about this very impressive nominee, her commitment to the rule of law, and the rights and liberties of all Americans.”

Maine‘s Fair and Independent Federal Courts Coalition was founded in 2004 to monitor appointments to the federal bench. Included among the 30+ members are Centro Latino, Disability Rights Center, Environmental Health Strategy Center, Family Planning Association of Maine, Maine AFL-CIO, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, Maine People’s Alliance, Maine Women’s Lobby, NAACP Portland Branch, National Council of Jewish Women Southern Maine Section, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, and Sierra Club Maine Chapter.

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