Action 44 Support MaineCare NOW
Background: MaineCare, which provides the only health insurance coverage for over 30% of Mainers, will soon run out of money. The state legislature has a bill, LD 209, which would cover the $118M shortfall. In order for this bill to pass quickly as an emergency measure, it needs 2/3 of the House to vote for it this coming Tuesday. To get to a 2/3 majority, Maine Republicans need to vote for this, and work out their desire to add “work requirements” later.
If they don’t, the Democrats have a workaround requiring only a majority vote, but this will cause a significant delay in allocating the necessary funding. While the funding is held up, there is a serious chance that many medical providers, clinics and doctors who serve MaineCare patients will at a minimum furlough staff and at a maximum, CEASE OPERATIONS PERMANENTLY. This could include Northern Light Health, which is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
Action: Call the Republicans in all the districts in Hancock County, even if they are not your representatives. They still represent your relatives and friends. Tell them how important MaineCare is to you. Tell them that if they don’t vote for the emergency funding for MaineCare, there will be dire consequences for many of their constituents. There could be deaths directly attributed to their vote. You will be watching. Contact your Democrats as well, and encourage them to talk to their colleagues across the aisle.
Who to contact:
State Representatives from Hancock County universal phone number (800) 423-2900
District 12 REPUBLICAN William.Faulkingham@legislature.maine.gov
District 13 REPUBLICAN Russell.White@legislature.maine.gov
District 14 Democrat Gary.Friedmann@legislature.maine.gov
District 15 Democrat Holly.Eaton@legislature.maine.gov
District 16 Democrat Nina.Milliken@legislature.maine.gov
District 17 REPUBLICAN Steven.Bishop@legislature.maine.gov
District 18 REPUBLICAN Mathew.McIntyre@legislature.maine.gov
Urgency: The vote is Tuesday Feb. 25. Flood the phones.
Extra Credit:
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/politics/2025/02/12/maine-gop-blocks-passage-of-emergency-budget-to-fill-medicaid-shortfall
https://mainemorningstar.com/2025/02/11/democrats-postpone-final-supplemental-budget-votes-buying-more-time-to-negotiate-with-republicans/