The following is a breakdown of votes on the Stupak Amendment by members of Congress from New England states. Links will take you to a web page with contact information for each member of Congress:

Voting FOR the Stupak Amendment:
Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME)
Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-MA)
Rep. James Langevin (D-RI)

Voting AGAINST the Stupak Amendment:
Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT)
Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT)
Rep. John Larson (D-CT)
Rep. Christopher Murphy (D-CT)
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Rep. John W. Olver (D-MA)
Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)
Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA)
Rep. John Tierney (D-MA)
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA)
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA)
Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA)
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
Rep. Paul Hodes II (D-NH)
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT)

“Civil rights must never be put up for a vote. If civil rights were put to a vote, President Obama wouldn’t be President Obama.” — Daniel Cates

“I know we need to build ground momentum, I know it all starts locally, but it’s time for federal rights. We need Obama, the legislators we have elected, that we work hard to elect, to stand up for the people they represent. We need them to pass federal legislation that says we are the citizens that we know we are.” — Erin Moore

“Last night Americans once again saw the rights and privileges afforded to gay couples stripped away by the voting public. Bigots were given the opportunity to go into a voting booth and decide someone else’s civil rights by pushing a button. It seems America has not learned about the hurt and pain caused by California.” — Jesse Garcia

“We know that civil rights gains are won from the legislatures and the courts, so where does that leave us? We have to build a grassroots direct action movement from the streets that will not ask for equality from our elected officials, but will demand equality from our elected officials.” — Blake Wilkinson

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.

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 to her and the Maine Green Independent Party. Voters will notice this sort of move, making it an astute if also heartfelt choice.

50% speakers’ time on wars and occupations of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Palestine.
25% speakers’ time on the economic crisis and the war at home
25% speakers’ time on movement building, local campaigns, action

A visit to Copley Square on October 17 would be an easy introduction to Boston’s eclectic activist scene. Historically speaking, Copley Square has seen a lot of protest, most recently focused on ANSWER Coalition styled protests against various US occupations, but also having to do with union issues, anti-war protests in the leadup to the war in Iraq, and even solidarity demonstrations after the passage of Proposition 8. Expect to see a polished presentation of political theater that displays a variety of political opinion you’re not likely to see aired on This Week With George Stephanopoulos.

Would you guess his name was Barney Frank?

Hello, I’m Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council here in Washington, DC with a commendation and a challenge to the churches in Maine about marriage.

Since America’s beginning, our society has defined marriage like the Bible does: a relationship between one man and one woman. However, times are changing and not always for the better. We have seen marriage radically redefined by the courts and even by some state legislatures, including yours. As you know, the Maine State Legislature passed, and the Governor signed into law, LD 1020, which sweeps aside the time-honored definition of marriage and legalizes same-sex marriage. If we allow this law to stand the result will be unbearable in that it will inevitably lead to the loss of religious liberties for Maine’s citizens and the indoctrination of Maine’s children through the public school system.

However, Mainers have a unique right that some states do not have, and that is the People’s Veto, the ability to collect petitions, signatures for a ballot referendum to overturn legislation passed by your state’s elected officials.

Thanks to your hard work and determination, you’re halfway there in this two-step process. Stand for Marriage Maine has collected over 100,000 signatures, almost twice as many as needed to place the People’s Veto on the November 3rd ballot. So allow me to commend you for a job well done.

Now comes the challenge, and that is taking on the special interest groups with all of their misinformation, and winning the vote to restore the time-honored definition of marriage in this special election.

You know, Abraham Lincoln once described our government as of the people, by the people and for the people. Well, you the people of Maine need to decide what constitutes marriage. Not a group of unelected judges or pandering politicians who are often quick to bow to the wishes of a radical minority bent on redefining God’s standard.

So the definition of marriage in Maine is now in your hands. Make sure you are registered to vote on this all-important issue. Make sure your friends and family are registered to vote. Take advantage of the absentee ballot process which makes voting convenient in your state. And make sure you vote Yes on Question 1 to restore marriage as only between one man and one woman.

[See Bill Nemitz for a fact-check of some of the claims Tony Perkins makes here.]

On Sunday, August 13, the same Tony Perkins of the FRC flew in from Washington, DC to Augusta, Maine to attend a closed-door, invitation-only meeting for leaders of the Stand for Marriage Maine effort.

Those who want to understand Stand for Marriage Maine and to predict its future actions would be wise to watch the movements of Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council.