States
Abortion in New England: Breakdown of Stupak Amendment Vote
On Saturday, November 7, the House of Representatives voted 240-194 to pass the Stupak Amendment to its health care reform bill, H.R. 3962. Under current federal law (known as the “Hyde Amendment”), federal funds can not be used to procure abortions. The Stupak Amendment goes farther, setting a much stricter rule: if... »
Protests Against Maine Same-Sex Marriage Repeal Spread to Texas
Would you have predicted that a vote regarding gay marriage would have brought Texas and Maine closer together? Believe it. In the wake of the 2009 Yes vote on Ballot Question One, repealing same-sex marriage equality in the state of Maine, protests have broken out in Dallas, Texas declaring solidarity with gay... »
Diocese of Portland Closes Churches for Lack of $50K, Spends $554K to Outlaw Gay Marriage
Item: Citing a Biddeford Parish deficit of $48,000, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland announced in August 2009 that it would be closing down three churches there. Item: As of October 20, 2009 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland had spent $553,608.27 on its campaign to outlaw same-sex marriage in the state of Maine. »
Say It With Me: Entrenched Green Party Incumbent…
Not too many places in the United States can utter declarations about an entrenched Green Party incumbent, at least with a straight face. Portland, Maine is one of those places. Maine Green Independent Party incumbent Kevin Donoghue has won another term on the Portland city council. »
Green Candidate Lynne Williams Stumps for NO on 1 in Maine
Maine Green Independent Party candidate for Governor Lynne Williams is out on the stump, advocating that people vote NO on Ballot Question 1 this fall: Ms. Williams takes her campaign to a second level, making the issue not simply her personal success in the election of 2010, but also the success of issues that matter... »
Linda Bean’s Perfect 12-Inch Subway Philly Cheesesteak
Spotted today: a Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine Lobster Roll truck, stopped outside a Subway sandwich shop as the driver popped in for a bite. »
October 17 Anti-War Protest in Boston, MA: Planning Underway
Organizing is underway for a protest against wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan on October 17 in Boston’s Copley Square. Deliberations behind the scenes are reasonably transparent for a protest of this size, including the decision to open up the demonstration to topics not directly related to these wars: 50% speakers’ time on wars... »
Ballot Question 1 Meetings, Closed and Tweeted
Last week, the Maine anti-gay marriage group Stand for Marriage Maine held a single strategy session open only to ticket holders and closed to the press. During the same week, pro-gay marriage group NO on 1 / Protect Maine Equality held five “community conversations” across the state that were open to all comers,... »
Barney Frank Fails to Cosponsor DOMA Repeal
9 members of the LGBT Equality Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives represent congressional districts in New England states. If I were to tell you that only 1 of those 9 members has failed to cosponsor legislation repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, who would you guess that member might be? Would you... »
DC Family Research Council Takes Leading Role in Stand for Marriage Maine
There are two recent indications that the Family Research Council of Washington, DC has taken a leading role in (if not the reins of) the anti-gay-marriage group called Stand for Marriage Maine. Tony Perkins, head of the controversial Christian political organization, sent a video message to sympathetic Maine congregations toward the end of August 2009... »