Latest news with #ElizabethCaruso
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Maine lawmakers move forward with changes to 2021 transmission line referendum
A Versant Power technician energizes a line at the Tremont, Maine substation. (Photo courtesy of Versant Power) Though initially divided, lawmakers decided to move forward with a proposal to modify the law born out of a 2021 referendum question requiring the Maine Legislature to approve any new high-impact transmission lines. Although some legislators who worked on the campaign argued the proposal would clarify the law, LD 810 initially fell short of passage in the House of Representatives. After the Senate voted to pass the bill last Wednesday, the House ultimately decided to change course and passed the bill Monday by a one-vote margin. 'I'm shocked that we are being faced with this bill so soon after the historic and controversial battle,' said Rep. Elizabeth Caruso (R-Caratunk) during the House discussion last week. Caruso recounted the efforts by volunteers to gather signatures for the referendum question and the overwhelming support from roughly 60% of voters. The ballot question drew passionate grassroots support and overcame over $60 million in opposition spending fueled mostly by international energy companies. Therefore, the proposal before the Legislature to reform the law 'opposes the will of the people and the vote,' Caruso said. Approving it would send a message to voters that citizens' initiatives 'are a joke,' she added. Rep. Melanie Sachs (D-Freeport) said she was one of those Mainers who stood outside L.L. Bean to collect signatures for the campaign and was proud to vote 'Yes.' Though she still supports that referendum, Sachs also backed LD 810 because it 'is clarifying, not repealing.' Rep. Chris Kessler (D-South Portland), who sponsored LD 810, said he was also among the voters who supported the referendum, but argued his bill is meant to clean up the unintended consequences of the new law. Sen. Nicole Grohoski (D-Hancock), who worked on the referendum campaign, said while it is important to offer constituents legislative approval as a backstop on transmission lines proposed by private corporations, the current statute creates higher scrutiny for lines proposed by the Legislature than those from the private corporations. More specifically, the bill seeks to clarify that when the Legislature is seeking to develop a new transmission line, that project should not need to come back to the Legislature for approval after the Public Utilities Commission's review process. During committee hearings, the Office of Public Advocate, Maine State Chamber of Commerce and multiple environmental organizations agreed the duplicative process can deter developers, drive up costs for ratepayers and stand in the way of meeting climate goals. However, Sen. Matt Harrington (R-York) argued in favor of the current model because it gives the Legislature another opportunity to weigh in on a line after a route has been determined. This could be important because constituents could have issues with a line's route that wouldn't be known at the time of initial approval. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Debate centers on fairness and safety during hearing on transgender sports bills
Rep. Elizabeth Caruso of Caratunk speaks at a press briefing sponsored by the Republican party in the State House in Augusta to support proposed bills that would restrict transgender rights on May 8, 2025. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) Lawmakers on the Maine Legislature's Judiciary Committee heard more than eight hours of public testimony Thursday on a package of Republican bills that would roll back protections for transgender students in schools. The proposals include measures to restrict access to bathrooms and locker rooms, limit participation in sports, and prohibit school staff from using students' affirming names and pronouns without parental permission. Supporters of the bills described them as efforts to protect girls' safety and fairness in athletics, as well as to uphold parents' rights in decisions about their children's gender identity. But critics argued the legislation mirrors a national wave of attacks on transgender rights and would put trans youth at risk. Maine, which has drawn national attention for its gender-inclusive school policies, has seen an influx of proposals targeting those protections this session. In addition to sports, bathroom, and pronoun restrictions, lawmakers introduced bills that would strip gender identity from the Maine Human Rights Act and limit access to gender-affirming care. Transgender teens and allies crowd State House to fight anti-trans bills Similar bills have been passed by at least 28 states across the country, a statistic some Republican lawmakers cited during their testimony on Thursday. But in Maine, similar attempts to restrict trans students' rights have failed, said Gia Drew, executive director of Equality Maine. 'They're trying to rehash issues that we've already had debates on here in the Legislature time and time again,' she said. 'The tactics some of the opposition have used are dangerous, and this has been going on for years now.' The issue of trans girls' participation in sports has been central to Maine's months-long standoff with the Trump administration. After Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) posted a photo of a trans student athlete on her legislative Facebook page, President Donald Trump singled out Maine for its policy, prompting Gov. Janet Mills to tell the president she would see him in court. Since that exchange, at least three federal agencies opened investigations into Maine, claiming the state's inclusion of transgender athletes violated Title IX, a federal anti-discrimination law. Before the hearing, a group of female student athletes spoke at a press conference in support of the bills, which they said would address unfair competition from trans athletes. The issue of fairness was one that came up repeatedly during the hearing, from the bill sponsors as well as the student athletes that testified in support, who focused on biological differences between boys and girls, such as strength and speed, and argued that allowing trans girls to compete in women's sports creates safety risks and takes winning opportunities away from cisgender girls. 'Girls shouldn't have to feel uncomfortable in their sports, or be worried about getting seriously hurt,' said 17-year-old Biance Wright, an athlete from Benton. Sen. Sue Bernard (R-Aroostook), who sponsored one of three bills addressing school sports, said the issue 'boils down to one question: Should a person be allowed to self-identify with a gender and be allowed to compete with an automatic advantage?' Rep. Elizabeth Caruso (R-Caratunk) echoed those concerns, saying the bills she sponsored aimed to restore compliance with Title IX and referenced the Trump administration's executive order banning trans girls from girls' sports. 'This is not a political issue, and it's not a partisan topic,' said Caruso. 'Athletic potential depends on biology and not identity. Gender identity may be neutral in many areas of school life, but when it comes to sports and private spaces, terminology matters.' Caruso and other lawmakers described the bills as a win for all Mainers. Judiciary Committee member Rep. Ellie Sato (D-Gorham) pushed back, asking, 'How is it a win for all Mainers if trans students are being discriminated against?' The hearing drew hundreds of people, with critics of the legislation vastly outnumbering supporters. Many who testified, including other student athletes, said they didn't see an issue with trans student participation in sports. Paige Lambert, a student athlete from Fairfield, told the committee: 'I've never felt threatened by a trans athlete. Never felt unsafe or mistreated by a trans athlete.' 'Let me be clear: trans people are not the threat, trans people are under threat,' said Betsy Rodman, an educator and mother of a trans child. Some speakers warned that the legislation would endanger trans students by increasing bullying, mental health risks, and creating unsafe school environments. They underscored the need for inclusive spaces and highlighted the disproportionate discrimination trans students face, with several citing research that has found high rates of bullying and suicide attempts among trans youth. 'I can't count the number of times students have taken refuge in my office to avoid unsafe hallways, locker rooms or bathrooms,' Rodman said. 'I've never heard of a cisgender student feeling threatened or assaulted by a trans person in a bathroom, but I have many stories in the other direction, unfortunately.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Debate over transgender rights, girls sports draws large turnout to Maine State House
May 8—AUGUSTA — The debate over transgender athletes competing in girls sports drew hundreds to the Maine State House Thursday for what is expected to be a daylong series of public hearings on proposals to restrict participation and roll back gender identity protections in the state's anti-discrimination law. The first group of bills taken up by the Judiciary Committee included proposals to cut state funding to schools that allow transgender athletes to participate in girls sports or require school sports teams to be designated as male, female or coed and prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports. The committee was also expected to take up a bill later in the day Thursday that would eliminate protections based on gender identity from the Maine Human Rights Act, the law that state officials have cited as requiring them to allow students to participate in sports in a way that affirms their identity. The hearings come after the Trump administration sued Maine last month for allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls sports, saying it violates a federal law protecting women from discrimination in education. The administration also has moved to cut off federal funding to the state until it bans trans athletes, although the state has so far fended off any cuts in court. State officials have said the Trump administration is overstepping its authority without any legal precedent to back up their interpretation of federal law. The bills being heard Thursday were submitted prior to the Trump administration's lawsuit, although the national attention has intensified debate at the State House. All of the proposals are from Republican lawmakers. Rep. Elizabeth Caruso, R-Caratunk, said Thursday that her bill, LD 868, requiring school sports teams to be designated as male, female or coed and prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports, would bring Maine schools into compliance with the Trump administration's executive order and interpretation of Title IX and prevent a loss of federal funding. Hundreds of people submitted written testimony on the bills ahead of the hearings and supporters of transgender students said they were expecting a strong turnout. "Every student should be treated with kindness and respect, and they should be able to attend school and play sports without fear," said Gia Drew, executive director of EqualityMaine, an LGBTQ political advocacy organization, in a written statement Wednesday. "These bills won't just hurt transgender girls, they will hurt everyone and subject all Maine girls to invasive procedures that violate personal privacy." Supporters of the bills restricting transgender students' participation have also encouraged people to come to the hearings. Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, whose viral Facebook post featuring a transgender student athlete initially attracted the Trump administration's attention to the issue in February, posted Monday with a message encouraging people to attend the hearings. Libby shared a video from a Presque Isle student, Cassidy Carlisle, who has been active in speaking out against transgender athletes in girls' sports. "I know what it feels like to wonder if your voice matters," Carlisle said in the video. "I'm here to tell you it does. This hearing is a chance to show up for one another and let decision makers know we care deeply about the future of girls in sports." The bills that will be heard Thursday include LD 1134 and LD 233, both of which would prohibit schools that receive state funding from allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls' sports, and LD 868, which would require school sports teams to be designated as male, female or coed. It also would prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports and would require schools designate restrooms and changing rooms for use by males or females only. Another bill, LD 1432, would remove consideration of gender identity from the Maine Human Rights Act. This story will be updated. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine GOP lawmakers push suite of bills targeting trans students amid federal scrutiny
Rep. Elizabeth Caruso of Caratunk touted her proposal to bar transgender girls from competing in sports that align with their gender identity as a women's rights issue during a March 2025 press conference. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/ Maine Morning Star) While Maine has so far remained steadfast in defending the rights of transgender students, state Republican lawmakers are pushing to roll back many of those protections — including access to bathrooms and locker rooms, participation in school athletics, and the use of affirming pronouns. At least 28 other states, led by Republican majorities, have enacted one or more of these restrictions, according to the Movement Advancement Project, which tracks thousands of anti-LGBTQ+ bills and laws nationwide. So far, Maine has stood apart, successfully safeguarding transgender students' rights — even prevailing in federal court, where a judge ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week to resume funding it had frozen over the state's inclusive policies. The months-long standoff between the state and federal government began after Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) posted a photo of a trans student athlete on her legislative Facebook page. That post went viral and soon thereafter President Donald Trump singled out Maine for its policy allowing trans girls to participate in girls' sports, prompting Gov. Janet Mills to tell the president she would see him in court. Since that exchange, at least three federal agencies opened investigations into Maine, claiming the state's inclusion of transgender athletes violated Title IX. While on the federal level, Mills has defended Maine's Human Rights Act, which protects people from discrimination based on gender identity, she has also said the issue is 'worthy of debate' on the state level. And internal communications obtained by the Maine Morning Star show staff from the Maine Attorney General's office flagged two proposed anti-trans bills to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Amid this federal scrutiny, those two bills — along with six others — are scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday. The bills threaten to 'roll back civil rights, ban transgender girls from participating on girls' sports teams, and open the door to harassment, bullying and abuse of all youth,' said Gia Drew, executive director of Equality Maine, in a statement about the legislation. 'Every student should have the freedom to be themselves, to be safe, and to feel respected at school.' Four bills about trans athletes and school bathrooms The two bills flagged for the Trump administration, LD 868 and LD 233, were sponsored by Republican Reps. Elizabeth Caruso of Caratunk and Dick Campbell of Orrington. Campbell's bill introduces a blanket ban on 'allowing a person whose biological sex assigned at birth is male' to participate in a girls athletic program. Caruso's bill is broader; allowing for a co-ed program, but also restricting access to bathrooms and locker rooms for trans girls. A third bill, LD 1134 introduced by Sen. Susan Bernard (R-Aroostook), similarly bans transgender girls from accessing girls athletics, school facilities and bathrooms. During a press conference in March, Caruso, Assistant House Minority Leader Katrina Smith of Palermo and Libby, who posted the photo of the trans athlete, touted the proposals as a women's rights issue, arguing they are essential to 'protect girls' from losing to or being harmed by trans girls. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In addition to cosponsoring Bernard's bill, Smith also introduced legislation, LD 1704, specifically focused on banning school districts from adopting policies that allow students to use bathrooms aligned with their gender identity (as opposed to sex assigned at birth). Her bill also directs the Maine Department of Education to update its rules to reflect this change. Broader bills impacting Maine Human Rights Act Two bills specifically seek to weaken the Maine Human Rights Act, which was amended in 2021 to explicitly protect people from discrimination based on their gender identity. Caruso also introduced LD 1337, which would amend the provisions in the Maine Human Rights Act that govern unlawful educational discrimination 'to provide that they may not be construed to affect the rights of a female athlete' under Title IX. Title IX does not mention transgender students, so Caruso's bill is relying on the Trump administration's interpretation of the federal law. Caruso's bill would also exempt privately-run women's shelters from the human rights law. In a press conference last month, Rep. Michael Soboleski (R-Phillips) announced his bill, LD 1432, which would remove consideration of gender identity from the human rights act. During that event, Republicans called on Democrats and Mills to pass the bill to avoid the risk of losing federal funding. Supporters march and wave signs after a rally in Cumberland, Maine on Sunday, March 23, 2025, calling on Maine lawmakers, and local MSAD51 school officials, to support transgender student athletes. (Photo by Troy R. Bennett/ Maine Morning Star) 'The problem is that the term gender identity and the Human Rights Act is being interpreted way too broadly by the left,' said Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook). 'And what it's saying is there's no boundary between men's and women's spaces.' Earlier this year, Iowa became the first state in the nation to remove civil rights from a state law when its legislature voted to remove gender identity from its civil rights act. But Maine has protected trans people from discrimination in court for years before gender identity was added as a protected class, Drew from Equality Maine said. 'To some people, it may seem like gender identity as a protected class is this new idea or concept, but it really isn't,' she said. 'It's been really part of the conversations since 2005 at least, and it's been tested multiple times in the courts,' Drew added, pointing to several cases including the landmark 2014 ruling by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, which found that denying a transgender girl access to the girls' restroom at her school violated her rights under Maine's Human Rights Act. Bill to ban students from using affirming pronouns Rep. Sheila Lyman (R-Livermore Falls), a retired teacher and member of the Education Committee, introduced legislation aiming to mandate that educators in public and charter schools refer to a student by the name and gender listed on their birth certificate. The only exception schools can make under Lyman's proposal, LD 1002, would be if upon a student's enrollment, a parent or guardian provides written permission or documentation showing a legal name change. Pronoun bans are also common across the country in Republican-led states, with some extreme versions such as Florida's law that criminalizes the use of affirming pronouns. The Maine Department of Education has encouraged districts to develop policies affirming LGBTQ+ students, including honoring their pronouns. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
