Action 147 Next Steps

Background:  After yesterday’s passage of the disastrous budget bill and after considering the impacts on Maine (1), here are some things we can do immediately:

Actions:

Positive reinforcement of your elected officials matters.  They are only human, and, like children (or any of us, really) usually respond better to praise than to vitriolic scolding.  Our Congress critters, including Collins and Golden, should be thanked for yesterday’s NO vote.  If your elected State Rep is a Republican, ask them how on earth they can justify what their party has done.  Encourage them to follow what State Sen. Rick Bennett has done and unenroll – it’s the only way you could ever support them in the future.  Ask for a response.  If they are Dem or “independent”, encourage them to stay the course. Remember, the Maine legislature will be back in session January 7, 2026. Among the items of unfinished business is LD 1971, the ICE non-cooperation bill. Use these links to find your State Rep and State Senator .

Every local and state elected office matters.  Run for an office yourself, or recruit some non-MAGA, upstanding citizen who will run.  This effort has to start NOW, because November of 2026 is NOT THAT FAR OFF.  People need time to become comfortable with the idea of running for an office.  They need to organize for campaigning, and to prepare for the changes to their lives that an eventual win will bring.  Also, many local elections happen well before November ‘26. For help with the process, sign up HERE for a July 15 evening zoom.

Expressing your views matters.  We still have freedom of speech.  Use it or lose it! Write letters to the editor and op-eds (2). Talk about the political situation with your friends and neighbors, even if your grandmother told you the subject (like money and religion) was taboo in polite society. This is an emergency, so break the taboo. Get your signs ready, and attend the July 17 demonstration nearest you.  See Calendar at activatemaine.com.  Right now, there are 16 weekly rallies listed for Saturday July 5, and 13 (so far) for July 17.

Protecting vulnerable people matters (2).  Those of us whose white ancestors immigrated here centuries ago have a special obligation. (Hello, DAR sisters and SAR brothers!). Become trained in how to do this safely.  HERE is one event you can attend in person.  Be brave, stay resolute (but smart) about it. 

Extra Credit:

(1) https://mainemorningstar.com/2025/07/03/leaders-condemn-passage-of-budget-bill-they-say-will-be-devastating-for-maine/

(2) Many how-to resources out there: for example:

https://www.mainedems.org/letters-to-the-editor/

https://maineallcare.org/letters-to-the-editor-and-opeds/
https://midcoastindivisible.wordpress.com/write-a-letter-to-the-editor/

(3) Read this letter from a refugee in Maine, and consider that people like the author are being rounded up for deportation, to places where they will be tortured like Mr. Abrego.  It’s unconscionable, impeachable, treasonous, un-American, and devastating to the reputation of the USA and every one of our citizens.