Author: Taryn Hallweaver
Taryn serves as legislative director for the Maine People's Alliance.
Are you boiling over with rage at Senator Collins’ astounding betrayal of Dr. Ford, of survivors, of all women, of the thousands of her constituents who’ve written letters, called into jammed-up phone lines, re-lived their trauma in public spaces, and literally begged her to see them and believe their pain and vote for their human…
Perhaps you’ve recently heard that House Republicans in Maine are holding our upcoming election hostage. What does that mean? How can one party in one chamber hold hostage an election? And what the actual heck can be done about it? Voilà, the GIFsplanation you’ve been waiting for. Please put your tray table up, your seat…
If you’ve been lost in headlines like “Uncertainty rules as Maine lawmakers lurch toward adjournment” (BDN, April 5th) or perhaps feel like you’re treading water and barely staying afloat in the sea of national news, here’s a your get-up-to-speed post on the final week(s) of the Maine state legislature: what’s happened, what still has to…
Rep. Seth Berry contributed to this GIF-splanation. Berry is the Chair of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee and represents Bowdoin, Bowdoinham and Richmond, plus the unorganized territory of Perkins Township. Hey, it’s snowing! Yeah, yeah, it was starting to feel like spring for a few days,* but…
Have you heard that the Trump administration is likely about to approve a waiver for Governor LePage’s administration to kick a bunch more people off health care? Have you heard about the “debate” over work requirements? Are you wondering what the heck is going on? Buckle up. Here is the GIFsplanation you’ve been waiting for.…
You’ve heard by now that Trump’s tax plan is a massive bonanza for corporations and the rich. Especially the really rich.
On Friday night, 60 House Republicans voted to shut down Maine’s government. Here’s the full list. After refusing to participate in budget negotiations all session, at the literal eleventh hour they voted against a compromise budget and introduced a brand-new budget from Governor LePage. After 34 of 35 senators had voted for the compromise budget,…
From the outside looking in, the rapid-fire happenings in Augusta and the twists and turns of the legislative process can seem downright dizzying. (To be honest, it’s not all that different from inside the Capitol building looking out.) Between the more than 1,800 bills submitted and hundreds of committee hearings and debates, the procedural acrobatics…