Message to Republicans in Maine- Do not allow these horrific Trumpziism cuts harming innocent people!

Excellent article published in the local Topsham, Maine newsletter:
Trump's Unconstitutional Chaos.

Published in "Topsham Maine Local Scoop" an electronic newsletter.  The Topsham Democratic Committee offers this newsletter to help busy residents easily get factual news about what’s going on in Topsham town government and with state news that will affect Topsham. We hope to encourage civic participation.

Trump's incompetent team and its Musk-o-vites would have us believe that if Trumpzi decrees a policy in an Executive Order, his technocrats can enter the nation’s personnel and payment systems and shut them down, even though they were established by Congress according to law. By entering the data systems at the payment level, they have obtained access to all our personal data, Social Security numbers, bank data, tax data and who knows what else.

We live by the rule of law, not by the impulses of tech billionaires who wouldn’t know a Head Start Center if they tripped over it. Congress has the Constitutional power of the purse (Article I, Sections 7, 8 U.S. Constitution) and the President’s job is to “take care that the laws are faithfully executed.” (Article II, Sec. 3, U.S. Constitution.) We do not elect a king.

More than 40 lawsuits have challenged Trump’s actions and he has been enjoined from many of his unlawful actions. Yet it appears his team sometimes ignore court orders.

What does all this mean for a community like Topsham, Maine? Consider our vulnerability if funds are suddenly shut off to programs like these:

• Heating Assistance (LIHEAP)
• WIC (Women Infants and Children's program)
• Head Start for preschool children (One Maine Head Start provider who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation had to use a line of credit to pay employees due to the freeze).❗
• Domestic Violence shelters, receiving funding under the federal Violence Against Women Act.
• Meals on Wheels
• School lunch program
• Mental health crisis hotline
• Solar energy and energy efficiency projects
• Transportation and infrastructure projects

If Republicans want to bow down and "knee jerk respond" kowtow to Trump and damage the people in their states, then let them take public votes as the Constitution requires. 

In our American democratic process, we have a right for our representatives in Congress to be heard, to be accountable, and to have their vote matter. They are the lawmakers. No “special employees” (aka Musk a South African immigrant) should be rampaging through our payment systems and agencies, stopping funds authorized by law and firing the staff that make those programs work.

Thanks to the State and Schools for Protecting Children Vulnerable to Trump’s Attacks.

Trump has been attacking transgender youth and immigrants, dehumanizing them and cruelly portraying them. This has a particular impact on schools. Attacks on the LGBTQ community and the immigrant community are part of an authoritarian playbook worldwide.

We applaud the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) for clearly stating that Maine will not discriminate against LGBTQ youth in our schools in violation of the Maine Human Rights Act. In spite of Maine Republican push-back, the MDOE points out that “every student deserves a safe and equitable school environment.” 

In attacking immigrants, the Department of Homeland Security recently rescinded protection from ICE raids of sensitive areas like churches, hospitals and schools. These must be safe places for everyone, especially families with children. Maine School Administrative District 75 (MSAD 75) Superintendent Heidi O’Leary assured parents that their children’s privacy under the law (FERPA) will be protected. 

We agree. ICE agents should not be entering schools without a judicially obtained warrant and proper advance notice to parents. No child should be exposed to intimidation or arrest, nor should they have to witness it.

For immigrants, help to know your rights is here: https://ilapmaine.org/know-your-rights.
For students, including LGBTQ students, help to know your rights is here: Know Your Rights: Students' Rights | ACLU of Maine.

Kudos to Topsham Protesters who objected to Republican Recognition of Pardoned January 6th Attacker.

“Insurrection is not Patriotism” said one of the signs of the protesters at the Topsham Baptist Church that hosted the Republican event recognizing the pardoned January 6th former felon Mathew Brackley. The protesters couldn’t have been more right. Our State Representative Rafael Macias was right to join the protesters in support.

What were Republicans thinking? Brackley not only joined an attack on the Capitol where approximately 140 police officers were injured. He was part of a violent attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power – the heart of our democracy. Yet, Republicans, sadly, celebrate him.

Yes, Brackley regrets “pushing past police officers,” but let’s be clear. He joined a riotous crowd that had broken past barriers and police officers to enter the Capitol he knew was off limits. Then, with a mob behind him shouting obscenities, they were blocked by two police. Brackley asked where Nancy Pelosi was. The police ordered him to go back. Instead, he turned to the crowd behind him, yelled “let’s go!”, physically pushed aside the police, and led the crowd toward the Senate Chambers - Chambers just vacated for fear of the mob. Brackley’s mob was then met with a larger line of police officers in riot gear who tried to hold the line as the crowd pushed and swore at them. Tear gas deployed by police eventually caused their retreat. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison. (See, District of Columbia | Maine Man Sentenced for Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach | United States Department of Justice.)

Brackley, who apparently believes that the 2020, election was actually stolen, is an example of the violence that lies and propaganda can cause. 

In a sad way, he too is a victim of this propaganda. Apparently no one told him that Trump's team lost 60 lawsuits trying to perpetuate the lie that the election was stolen. (See https://campaignlegal.org/results-lawsuits-regarding-2020-elections.) Why? Because in court you need at least some facts and evidence - not wild media accusations and doctored videos.

By celebrating him, Republicans perpetuate the propagandistic lies and promote the violence. This is not the Maine Republican Party the Democrats once knew. We once had a Republican party who we could debate with on policy, sometimes reaching compromise. But now this Republican party has morphed into something different and dangerous. It promotes damaging lies, undermines the democratic process itself, whips up members to violence using false information, and promotes people (however contrite) who attacked police officers in an effort to overthrow our democratic republic.

Please, Maine Republicans, don’t go further down this road. We beg of our Republican neighbors, who care about roads, schools, children, communities and, yes, democracy too, do not fall victim to this cult propaganda like Brackley did. Don’t ignore real facts, the Constitution and the nation’s laws.

Call Senator Angus King, Senator Susan Collins, and Representative Chellie Pingree and ask them to oppose cuts to Medicaid and any Medicaid Work requirements. In Sagadahoc County 21.5% of people get their health coverage from Medicaid: 33% of children, 18% of non-senior adults, and 20% of seniors who usually combine it with Medicare. (Georgetown Center for Children and Families, 2/6/25). Republicans, in their budget process propose major cuts, possibly by block granting the program so it will be cut, then dwindle over time, cutting the matching funds given to states, or imposing work requirements. 

Of course,

 most people on Medicaid already work if they do not have caretaking responsibilities or disabilities that present a barrier to the workforce. (KFF, 2/4/25). The work requirement achieves two things: to falsely cast people getting this health coverage as lazy and to cut thousands off because of the difficulty complying with the work reporting requirements. (When Arkansas implemented a work requirement in the first Trump Administration, 18,000 people lost coverage in less than a year, with terrible consequences. It had no positive effects in helping people find jobs. Health Affairs, Sept. 2020.)

Maine Resists: No Kings Rally, President’s Day, February 17, 2025, 12:00 - 4:00 at the State House in Augusta. Masks encouraged. Organized by Maine Resists. 

See them on Facebook and on Bluesky @maineresists.

(Also check out social media Resistance)

Spending Blackout, From Midnight Thursday February 27th until Midnight Friday the 28th. Protest with your wallet. Do not spend at large stores like Target, Amazon, or Home Depot. Independent local shops are fine.