Latest news with #Mainers
Fox News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Linda McMahon sends warning to Maine after state's education chief's emails undermining Trump surface
U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon addressed a Fox News Digital report that the Maine education commissioner undermined President Donald Trump's executive orders in emails to schools. McMahon shared the report in a post on X Tuesday, referencing the Trump administration's lawsuit against the state for defying Title IX. "Deliberately defying federal law is exactly why [the Department of Education] found Maine in violation of Title IX- and why DOJ is continuing its lawsuit against the state. If you ignore federal law, there will be consequences," McMahon wrote. Emails obtained by Fox News Digital show Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin drafted multiple memos for schools that suggested the schools follow Maine state law and not comply with Trump's January executive orders that addressed public education. "Last week, we advised schools to adhere to the Maine Human Rights Act and your local school board policies related to nondiscrimination. We encourage you to continue to keep all people safe and we reiterate the fact that, at present, neither our state law nor your local policies are diminished by the executive orders directing action at the federal level, one memo read, as seen in a Jan. 28 email. "Most of the executive orders pertain to federal agencies and federal laws over which Maine DOE has no authority." Makin corresponded with Maine Assistant Attorney General Sarah Forster, with a draft of a memo to schools. The memo included orders to avoid complying with Trump's "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling," executive order, in a Jan. 30 email. "… this EO changes nothing for Maine schools," part of an email discussing the memo wrote. The memo draft said "Maine schools should continue to follow the laws of our state and the provisions within their local policies." Then, in a Jan. 31 email, Makin drafted another memo to superintendents and school leaders addressing the executive order. "The Executive Order does not alter the obligations of schools under state law, including the Maine Human Rights Act, and does not require any immediate changes to locally adopted school board policies," the memo read. Maine state representative Laurel Libby addressed the report in an interview with "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday morning. "I'm not surprised at all," Libby said, later adding, "It's a woke agenda with which most Mainers don't agree. They don't agree that biological males should be participating in girls' sports. They don't agree that the focus should be on DEI and social emotional learning." Maine and Governor Janet Mills have been in a feud with Trump's administration since February after the state became one of the first to openly defy Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. The defiance resulted in a trans athlete winning a girls pole vault competition in February, and then an in-person verbal spat between Trump and Mills at a Feb. 21 White House meeting of governors. The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a lawsuit against Mills and the state for defying Title IX, which is set to go to trial in January 2026. A survey by the American Parents Coalition found that out of about 600 registered Maine voters, 63% said school sports participation should be based on biological sex, and 66% agreed it is "only fair to restrict women's sports to biological women." The poll also found that 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participation in women's and girls sports to biological females. This included 64% of independents and 66% of parents with children under age 18.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine's democracy is strong despite socioeconomic barriers to access, report finds
People emerge from the Besse Building after casting their ballots in Albion, Maine on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. (Photo by Michael G. Seamans/ Maine Morning Star) Maine's democracy remains among the most accessible and resilient in the nation, with strong voter turnout, a largely representative state legislature, and an increased shift toward clean elections, despite some socioeconomic inequities in voting. That's according to the 2025 State of Democracy in Maine report, compiled by the League of Women Voters of Maine, Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, and Maine Students Vote, which offers an assessment of several areas of the state's democratic health — voter turnout, clean elections, campaign finance, government transparency and accountability. 'Despite some areas for improvement, we want Mainers to feel very confident in their democracy and that they should feel proud of where we stand,' said Jen Lancaster, communications director for Democracy Maine. Maine has made progress over the years in improving accessibility for elections, leading to one of the highest voter turnouts in the country in recent elections. But people that are engaged in local, state and national elections still represent homeowners, wealthier communities and tend to not include the state's diversifying population, the report found. Some other barriers to a healthy democracy include inaccessible county government systems and an overburdened judicial system. Despite steady gains in gender parity — women now hold 41% of legislative seats, up from 27% two decades ago — the Maine Legislature remains disproportionately composed of older, wealthier white men, according to the report. Baby boomers make up nearly 60% of legislators, compared to 36% of the population. Structural barriers such as low legislative pay and lack of child care might be disproportionately affecting women and younger candidates, the report says. However, Maine's cabinet under the state's first female governor, Janet Mills, has reached gender parity and beyond: women now hold 55% of executive leadership roles, a first in state history. And the efficiency gap — a standard for measuring how closely the partisan makeup of an elected body matches its voter base — is less than 1% for both the House of Representatives and Senate, meaning that the partisan makeup of the state legislature closely reflects the partisan split in votes cast, the report found. A high efficiency gap is indicative of gerrymandering. Maine continues to lead the nation in voter participation, ranking third nationwide with a 74.8% turnout rate in the November 2024 election (which was a bit lower than the record-setting 2020 turnout). Youth participation also outpaces the national average: 60% of young people aged 18-29 voted in 2024, second only to Minnesota. But the report also found that voter turnout in the poorest House districts across the state, including some large diverse areas such as Lewiston, was half that of the wealthiest ones, such as Falmouth or Cape Elizabeth. Renters and residents of high-poverty districts were significantly less likely to vote, suggesting structural barriers to participation. Lancaster said that voter turnout varying by home ownership in particular was a surprising finding of the report. Renters are more likely to face residential instability, which makes it harder to know where and when to vote and to connect with local political issues and candidates, according to the report. For renters who move frequently, updating their voter registration address might also be an additional barrier. Maine is one of only two states — alongside Vermont — that allow incarcerated citizens to vote and is one of 14 states that does not require photo ID at the polls. These rules, along with same day voter registration, online voter registration, and absentee ballot drop boxes have helped keep turnout high. Maine Supreme Judicial Court upholds voter ID ballot question language But the 'Voter ID for Maine' initiative that will appear on the November 2025 ballot threatens to roll back many of these gains. The conservative Dinner Table PAC launched the campaign in April 2024 as an effort to require voters to show photo identification at the polls, citing concerns of voter fraud. However, the official five-page petition submitted to the state in January seeks to change several additional aspects of Maine election law. If passed, the referendum would impose strict ID requirements, limit absentee voting access, and repeal ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and voters with disabilities. The League of Women Voters of Maine labeled the initiative an example of voter suppression. While Maine has made notable strides in election transparency and access, the report flags county governments and probate courts as stark exceptions. Unlike other branches of government, these institutions operate with limited public oversight, outdated online presence, and inconsistent transparency standards. County government is responsible for staffing jails, sheriffs offices, district attorneys offices and spending of federal funds, such as American Rescue Plan funds and some of the opioid settlement money the state has received. But people who run for county commissioner, sheriff and district attorney are often uncontested, the report found. In the last decade, only 35% of district attorney races had more than one candidate on the ballot. In sheriff races, only 28% were contested. In the last three elections, only 40% of county commission races were contested, and three races had no candidate on the ballot. Information about county government meetings, financial audits or services is hard to get online, with website quality often being poor, the report also found. Probate courts, which operate outside of Maine's judicial system, also vary widely in how they manage case information and public records. Some counties lack even basic digital access to court schedules or decisions. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Susan Collins Dealt New Polling Blow Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine was dealt a polling blow ahead of her potential reelection bid as the 2026 midterms approach, with Democrats hoping to unseat her in the Pine Tree State. Why It Matters Collins has continued gaining reelection despite Maine supporting Democrats in presidential elections since 1992, partly due to her moderate voting record. But Democrats are hoping a strong national push and diminishing approval from constituents during President Donald Trump's second administration could make her vulnerable next year. Whether Collins can retain support among independents and moderate Democrats will have key implications for whether she will be reelected next year. What To Know Morning Consult released its quarterly poll of senators' approval ratings this week and found that Collins is among four with negative scores. Only 38 percent of Mainers approve of her job performance, according to the pollster, which noted it is a "record low" for Collins. Meanwhile, 54 percent disapprove of her performance—a high point in the survey's history, spanning to 2017. That marks a notable decline from the fourth quarter of 2024, when 47 percent of Mainers approved of Collins and 44 percent disapproved, according to Morning Consult. In the third quarter of 2024, 50 percent of Mainers approved, and 42 percent disapproved of Collins. Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine speaks in Washington, D.C., on June 4. Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine speaks in Washington, D.C., on June Breakthrough T1D Morning Consult polls are based on a "three-month roll-up" of responses from daily tracking surveys among registered voters. Collins last won reelection in 2020 against Democrat Sara Gideon. At the time, most polls suggested Gideon had a lead, but Collins ultimately ended up winning with just over 50 percent of the vote. The only other senators with negative approval ratings in the poll were GOP Senators Joni Ernst of Iowa, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Despite hopes of a blue wave, Democrats are facing a tough Senate map, making Collins' seat a must-win as they aim to regain control of Congress' upper chamber. In addition to Maine—which backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by about 7 percentage points—North Carolina, which Trump carried by about 3 percentage points, is viewed as Democrats' other top flip opportunity. Who Could Susan Collins Face in 2026 Midterms? On the Democratic side, two candidates have declared their intent to run. David Costello, who ran in 2024 and held several different positions in Maryland, including acting secretary of the state's Department of the Environment, is running again. Jordan Wood, who served as chief of staff to former Representative Katie Porter, a California Democrat, is also running. Governor Janet Mills has also not ruled out running. Some Democrats view her as their best chance of winning, as she has also won statewide by comfortable margins. Morning Consult's latest gubernatorial approval ratings, however, also delivered troubling news to Mills, though she was still narrowly above water with Mainers, scoring a +2 approval rating. "Janet Mills of Maine is term-limited as governor and viewed as one of the Democratic Party's best options to challenge moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins in next year's midterm elections. But she's also the most unpopular Democratic governor in the country, and one of the only to lose popularity since the last quarter of 2024," the report reads. Collins has distanced herself from Trump, voting against his signature "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" over Medicaid cuts. She has long cast herself as the most moderate Republican in the Senate, which has helped her win elections. A Pan Atlantic Research Poll, which surveyed 840 likely Maine voters from May 12 to May 26, had better news for Collins. In that survey, 49 percent of respondents viewed her favorably, while only 45 percent viewed her unfavorably. A Collins spokesperson pointed to that poll when reached by Newsweek. Conversely, a University of New Hampshire poll released last month found that only 14 percent of Mainers view Collins favorably, while 57 percent view her unfavorably. An additional 26 percent were neutral. That poll surveyed 846 Maine residents from June 19 to June 23, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points. What People Are Saying Nick Puglia, regional press secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, previously told Newsweek: "No one fights harder for Maine than Susan Collins, and she continues delivering big wins like protecting Social Security for over 25,000 Mainers and millions of Americans." Amy Walter, editor-in-chief of Cook Political Report, wrote on X: "For all the talk of Dem SEN opportunities in NC, TX and even IA, the red lights are really blaring in MAINE, where Morning Consult polling shows Trump underwater by 17 pts. SEN. Collins at -16. And yet NO serious Dem is taking the plunge to challenge her." What Happens Next Collins had not made a formal announcement about her reelection bid, but told CNN in May it is her "inclination to run" and that she is "preparing to do so." The Cook Political Report classifies the race as "Lean Republican," meaning it is "considered competitive," but that Collins "has an advantage." Sabato's Crystal Ball also classifies the race as leaning toward Republicans.
The Hill
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Maine Family Planning sues Trump administration over Medicaid cuts
Maine Family Planning filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump administration seeking to restore Medicaid funding that is set to be stripped under the president's sweeping tax and spending package. A provision in the law bans health care providers who perform abortions and receive more than $800,000 in federal reimbursements from receiving Medicaid funding for one year. Republicans included the provision in the legislation to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood even though the organization is not named in the language of the law. Planned Parenthood quickly filed an injunction against the Trump administration after President Trump signed his 'big, beautiful bill' into law and a judge temporarily paused the measure's enforcement. But the provisions stipulations mean that Maine Family Planning, which oversees the largest network of reproductive health clinics in Maine, will also be cut off from Medicaid reimbursements. 'The provision's parameters were designed to create plausible deniability that its sole target was Planned Parenthood; as a result, MFP got caught in its net,' the lawsuit reads. If the provision is enacted, thousands of low-income Mainers will lose access to abortion care as well as primary and reproductive health care unrelated to abortion, the organization argues. The Center for Reproductive Rights filed the lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on behalf of Maine Family Planning. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs ask for emergency relief from the provision so that the nonprofit organization would not be forced to turn away patients who rely on Medicaid and who otherwise are not able to afford to pay out-of-pocket for health care. They argue withholding Medicaid funding to Maine Family Planning denies it equal protection under the law since other organizations that also receive Medicaid reimbursements for providing the same reproductive health services are not subject to the provision. 'Targeting health care providers who serve the populations with the fewest resources, and doing it by witholding funding simply because they also provide abortion care, is completely opposed to the goal of the Medicaid program—to ensure that adults and children with limited resources can access health care,' the lawsuit states. Maine Family Planning serves about 8,700 people a year either at one its 18 clinics or via its mobile unit, according to George Hill, president and CEO of Maine Family Planning. 'Tens of thousands' of other patients receive health care at one of MFP's subcontracted clinics throughout the state, the organization said in a statement. 'In a state like Maine, which is large enough to include the rest of New England by geographic area, this is a big threat,' said Hill. 'We don't have patients that are extremely mobile, especially in winter time. We have one highway going North and South. There is no highway going East and West.' About half MFP's patients at their primary clinics get their health insurance coverage through Medicaid, and 70 percent of their patients do not see other providers for health care needs. Hill said at the moment MFP has issued a moratorium on accepting new patients at its primary care clinics but is continuing to care for existing patients with Medicaid and holding off on filing insurance claims. 'We can't do that forever, obviously,' he said.
01-07-2025
- Business
Which Republican senators voted against Trump's agenda bill and why
President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill came down to the wire as Senate Republican leaders scrambled to get all GOP members on board before the final vote Tuesday. In the end, three long-serving GOP members, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina voted against, forcing Vice President JD Vance to break a 50-50 tie. Each of the three has explained their reasons for bucking the president. Susan Collins One of the mostly closely watched as the vote neared was Collins, who had been on the fence due to the bill's proposed Medicaid cuts. "Approximately 400,000 Mainers – nearly a third of the state's population – depend on this program," she said in a statement after voting no. "A dramatic reduction in future Medicaid funding, an estimated $5.9 billion in Maine over the next 10 years, could threaten not only Mainers' access to health care, but also the very existence of several of our state's rural hospitals." Collins added that the bill had "additional problems." "The tax credits that energy entrepreneurs have relied on should have been gradually phased out so as not to waste the work that has already been put into these innovative new projects and prevent them from being completed," she said. Thom Tillis Tillis has been extremely vocal in his opposition sine the weekend, drawing attention for a passionate floor speech citing Medicaid provisions he claimed would hurt his North Carolina constituents. During a closed-door GOP conference meeting two weeks ago, Tillis is reported to have made the point that Medicaid coverage for more than 600,000 North Carolinians would be at risk under the Senate's proposal and asked his colleagues to consider how the policy would affect their own states -- even providing state-specific data on a handout. "I just encouraged other members to go to their states and just measure how ... take a look at the proposed cuts and tell me whether or not you can absorb it in the normal course of business, and in many cases, you're gonna find that you can't," Tillis told reporters at the Capitol last week. Trump lashed out against Tillis on his social media platform and to the press and threatened to field primary challengers. Tillis announced on Saturday that he would not seek reelection. Rand Paul Paul, a staunch advocate for keeping spending and the debt ceiling in check, posted on X that he wanted the bill to include a 90% reduction in the ceiling. "No earmarks. No handouts. Just real fiscal reform. I wasn't looking for favors. I wasn't horse-trading. I was fighting for the American people and against our out-of-control debt," he said. "Bottom line: I offered my vote for fiscal sanity. Congress chose to sell out taxpayers instead. Only once the bill is released, we will know what the true price was," Paul added.
