It's a Lifetime Job - So Where's the Paperwork?

When President Bush forwarded the name of Judge John Roberts to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Maine Women's Lobby joined the members of Maine's Fair and Independent Federal Courts Coalition in calling for a thorough review of his record, background, and constitutional philosophy.

That's why it is so disturbing that President Bush has said he will not release key documents from Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' time as the political deputy to Solicitor General Ken Starr in the George H. W. Bush White House, claiming attorney-client privilege--This despite the fact that there is precedent for release of such documents in Supreme Court and other federal court appointments.

This stonewalling inhibits the ability of the Senate to perform its constitutional duty--that is, to carry out a thorough and independent review of the nominees fitness for the Supreme Court.

We think the Senate should say No documents? No confirmation. Let the Senate do its job.

Affect Public Policy in Maine: Join the Maine Women Advisory Council

The Maine Women's Policy Center is launching a new initiative to give our members an opportunity to affect public policy for women and girls in the state - the Maine Women Advisory Council. The Maine Women Advisory Council is a way for women leaders to engage with one another, discuss policy issues, and develop their leadership and grassroots organizing skills... Not to mention a fun chance for like-minded women to get away and socialize!

Thus far, Advisory Groups have been formed in Portland and Bangor. If you would like to join, please email info@mainewomen.org

Share Your Thoughts: Discrimination in Maine

In March, the State Legislature passed a bill to protect all Mainers, regardless of sexual orientation, from discrimination in employment, education, housing, credit and public accommodations.

But, on July 28, 2005 the Secretary of State certified the Coalition for Marriage's signatures to force a referendum for the Anti-Discrimination Act that passed this session prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, credit and education based upon sexual orientation. The Coalition for Marriage would like to repeal Maine’s anti-discrimination law, continuing to allow Maine people to be fired from their job or denied housing because of who they love.

Due to the Coalition for Marriage's successful petition drive there will be a referendum on the November ballot to attempt to repeal this law.

The referendum question that voters will have to answer is: “Do you want to repeal the new law that protects people from discrimination based on sexual orientation?” A NO vote means that you want to keep Maine’s anti-discrimination law on the books – that is, you don’t want to repeal it. A YES vote means that you do want to repeal this law and allow for discrimination in Maine based on sexual orientation.

If the election were held today, how would you vote on this question, YES or NO? Email us at info@mainewomen.org with your comments.

Maine Won't Discriminate, a broad-based coalition supporting Maine's anti-discrimination law has launched a new website - http://www.mainewontdiscriminate.org/ - that will serve as a key rallying point for supporters and people seeking facts about the law and its importance to Maine.