Dear Friend,
Thursday, May 6 will be one of the busiest days we have seen in years. Seven bills on which we have been focusing will have public hearings before the Judiciary Committee and the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee; the members of those committees need to hear from you.
Starting at 9 AM, the Judiciary Committee will be hearing testimony on three bills dealing with transgender policy. We need to hear from women who support Sen. Keim’s women’s shelter bill (LD 1238). These legislators need to know that vulnerable women seeking shelter should not have to sacrifice their privacy and safety by sleeping and showering with biological males.
We also need to hear from parents, female student-athletes, coaches, and other citizens in support of LD 926 and LD 1401 protecting women’s sports. Women have fought too hard for the progress they have made in athletic competition to see those opportunities evaporate by allowing males to compete in women’s athletics.
On that same day, the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee will be hearing four bills addressing the negative impact of removing the religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccinations. The members of this committee need to hear from parents, students, medical professionals, schools, and citizens who support the previous exemptions. The League supports Reps Drinkwater‘s and Sampson‘s bills (LD 156 and LD 1082) exempting virtual schools and private school students from immunization requirements. We support Rep. Kinney‘s bill (LD 833) reinstating the religious exemption. We also support Rep. Faulkingham’s bill (LD 96) which would restore both the philosophical and religious exemptions.
Click here to sign up to provide written or live, online testimony. If you’ve never provided written testimony, click here for a guide. Click here for a link to a document created by Mike McClellan about these bills and others that will be heard this week. Click here for details and talking points for the vaccination bills from our allies, Mainers for Health and Parental Rights.
As always, if you have any questions or need any help with the testimony process, you can contact our policy director, Mike McClellan anytime at cclmainepolicy@gmail.com or 329-6148. We know these are controversial bills, and some of you may be apprehensive about providing testimony due to possible negative consequences with your work situation or other circumstances. You can also contact Mike McClellan if you want to confidentially provide relevant information regarding these bills.
Let us not forget that our battle is not with flesh and blood. Thursday, May 6 is the National Day of Prayer (NDP) and, boy, do we need prayer! Click here to see my brief interview with the Northeast Director of NDP, Robin McLaughlin, to get details about the Augusta NDP event and activities near you.
Transgender Bills | Judiciary Committee
Sponsor: Rep Beth O’Connor
House District #5
Public Hearing: May 6th, 2021
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Judiciary Committee
Update
Summary
This would seem to solidify that biology and science dictate the rules of who competes in competitive races.
Our Concerns
Logic does not always stand these days.
Sponsor: Sen. Lisa Keim
Senate District #18
Public Hearing: May 6th, 2021
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Judiciary Committee
Update
This is now a written bill; we are awaiting a Public Hearing.
Summary
We believe the titles concerning affirming gender rights will be much of our work in 2021. It is unthinkable we will be debating allowing biological males into a female shelter.
Our Concerns
Many.
Sponsor: Rep. MaryAnne Kinney
House District #99
Public Hearing: May 6th, 2021
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Judiciary Committee
Update
Summary
Title IX was created to protect women and gender proponents are working to skew definitions.
Our Concerns
The war on women.
Vaccination Bills | Education and Cultural Affairs Committee
Sponsor: Rep. Heidi Sampson
House District #21
Update
This has just become a bill; details will follow.
Summary
This bill increases the total enrollment at virtual public charter schools authorized by
the Maine Charter School Commission from 1,000 at all virtual public charter schools to
1,500 at a virtual public charter school also; It exempts children who are enrolled in or attend a virtual public charter school from immunization requirements.
Our Concerns
This appears to allow more choice for Maine students, protection for some from the immunization laws that are anti-choice and anti religious freedom
Sponsor: Rep. Gary Drinkwater
House District #121
Update
The bill was referred to the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee
No public hearings or work sessions have been listed for this bill.
Summary
This bill exempts children who are enrolled in or attend a virtual public charter school or a private school from the requirement that a child must have evidence of immunization to be enrolled in or attend school.
It also reminds public schools to make provisions for ALL students as Maine law states.
Our Concerns
Why would “Virtual Students” need to miss school because of their religious or personal beliefs?
Sponsor: Rep. MaryAnne Kinney
House District #99
Description
Public Law 2019, chapter 154 removes the exemption from immunization requirements based on religious belief for students in elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools and employees of nursery schools and certain health care facilities. This bill reinstates the religious exemption.
Update
Has not been assigned to a committee yet
Summary
Would appear to be using funding that had gone to abortion and moving it to adoption services.
Our Concerns
We support this legislation.
Sponsor: Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham
House District #136
Update
The bill was referred to the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee
No public hearings or work sessions have been listed for this bill.
Summary
The Vaccination Bill, LD 798 removed religious and personal freedoms to choose or refuse vaccinations. This bill extends the existing exemption to any student who elects a philosophical or religious exemption from immunization on or before September 1, 2021.
Our Concerns
We don’t like LD 798, this attempts to create some fairness and consistency to bad legislation.
