#Maine #GovernorJanetMills releases $1.25 million to help #FoodBanks respond to #SNAP losses

Mills also has not ruled out calling a special session of the Legislature so roughly 170,000 Mainers don’t lose federal food assistance.

by Randy Billings. October 30, 2025

FALMOUTH — "Gov. Janet Mills said Wednesday that her administration is releasing an additional $1.25 million in funding for food pantries and anti-hunger programs in a bid to keep nearly 170,000 low-income Maine families from losing assistance during the federal government shutdown.

"Mills said the funding would be distributed through the #GoodShepherdFoodBank and the #AreaAgenciesOnAging to support programs such as #MealsOnWheels and other anti-hunger organizations.

" 'When the federal government fails, Maine will not,' Mills said in a written statement. 'When challenges arise, Maine people step up.'

"Mills is using $1 million from the governor’s contingency account and the John T. Gorman Foundation is providing $250,000. The Portland nonprofit noted that 55,000 children could lose food assistance.

"Heather Paquette, president of Good Shepherd, said in a written statement that the funding will help support nearly 600 food pantries and other partner organizations across the state.

" 'Our partners on the front lines are facing an overwhelming need for food right now and these funds will go to work immediately to help ensure everyone in Maine has access to the food they need to feed themselves and their families during this uncertain time,' Paquette said.

[...]

"Some other states are also announcing emergency funding for food banks and food assistance programs in anticipation of the loss of SNAP benefits. #Minnesota, for example, has announced $4 million for food assistance programs, and #NewYork is committing $30 million."

Read more:
pressherald.com/2025/10/29/mai…

Archived version:
archive.fo/1nXLP

#USPol #MainePol #MaineResists
#Resistance #ResistTrump #TrumpSucks #TrumpIsABully #TrumpIsAFascist #SNAPCuts #USDACuts #HungerGames #KillThePoor #FoodStamps #FoodInsecurity #District13 #Mainers

Wait, what...?!!!

#Trump Is Exploiting the #Shutdown to Set Up Something Truly Terrifying

By Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern
Oct 17, 2025

Excerpt: "I think that is a dangerous thing, and it’s pretty much undeniable that Trump has just crossed yet another Rubicon. He has already asserted presidential control over taxes through his tariff policy. He has asserted control over the Federal Reserve and interest rates and monetary policy. And now he’s asserting control over appropriations—and not just through pocket rescissions or canceling projects in blue states, which he had already done. Now he is actually asserting a constitutional imperative to spend money in a way that Congress has not approved. When you combine all of those things, it’s hard to see how the separation of powers still exists in this country."

Read more:
slate.com/news-and-politics/20…

Archived version:
archive.ph/7cYI5

#USPol #TrumpIsAFascist #SecretPolice #CapitolGuards #Panem #authoritarianism #Fascism #CharacteristicsOfFascism

FUCK YEAH!!! #Maine Senate rejects sports ban, sounding death knell for #AntiTrans bills this session

Eesha Pendharkar
Tue, June 17, 2025

"All legislation seeking to roll back rights for #Transgender people in Maine has now failed after the majority of the Senate on Monday rejected a bill that would have banned #TransgenderGirls from participating in girls sports.

"That means that despite pressure from President Donald #Trump’s administration, Maine will continue to uphold the right for trans students to participate in sports that align with their gender identity.

"The state’s policies have come under scrutiny over the past few months, with the Department of Justice launching a lawsuit against the state for allegedly violating federal anti-discrimination protections in addition to repeated threats from several agencies to cut federal funding.

"Last week, House lawmakers advanced LD 233, which sought to ban trans girls from playing on girls’ teams. It was the only bill out of eight anti-trans measures that a majority of lawmakers in the lower chamber supported, with four Democrats joining with Republicans to advance the bill. During the floor debate, many argued that the bill was not intended to punish trans students, but to bring fairness to athletics and preserve girls’ spaces.

"However, on Monday, the Senate voted 21-13 to reject that bill as well as other measures not supported by the House, including bills aiming to ban trans students from bathrooms, locker rooms (LD 868) and trans people from single-sex shelters (LD 1337).

"Later in the evening, both the House and Senate voted to insist on their respective positions, effectively killing the measure, since the chambers could not agree."

yahoo.com/news/maine-senate-re…

#MaineResists #MainePride #TransgenderAthletes #ProtectTransYouth #ProtectTransKids #TransRights #TrumpIsAFascist #SeeYouInCourt #GLBTQNews #MainePol #USPol #TransRightsAreHumanRights

2/2 US Protest Law Tracker - Updates to #Federal #Protest Laws introduced in 2025.

Latest updates: Jun. 10, 2025 (US Federal)

#S982: Potential penalties for #universities based on protest #policies

Would make federal accreditation of colleges and universities—and thus their access to federal funds—contingent on the institution’s policies on responding to protests. Under the “No Tax Dollars for College #Encampments Act of 2024,” universities would have to regularly disclose how they respond to campus “incidents of civil disturbance,” defined to include “a demonstration, riot, or strike,” and their accreditation would be linked to such policies and practices. The bill sponsor cited #ProPalestine campus protests as motivation for the bill; he introduced the same bill in 2024.
(Full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre…)
Status: pending
Introduced 12 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot

#HR2065: Harsh penalties for protesters who conceal their identity

Would make it a federal crime, subject to a lengthy prison sentence, to wear a #mask or other disguise while protesting in an "intimidating" or “oppressive” way. Under the “Unmasking Hamas Act,” anyone "in disguise, including while wearing a mask" who "injures, oppresses, threatens, or intimidates any person" exercising their constitutional rights could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison as well as fined. The bill does not define “oppress,” nor does the bill specify what is meant by “disguise,” other than that it includes a “mask.” The bill’s substantive provisions are identical to the “Unmasking Antifa Act,” which lawmakers have introduced in several previous sessions. Sponsors of the bill made clear that it is a response to pro-Palestine protesters, some of whom have worn masks to avoid retaliation.
(Full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre…)
Status: pending
Introduced 11 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): #FaceCovering

S 937: Barring student protesters from federal loans and loan forgiveness

Would exclude student protesters from federal financial aid and loan forgiveness if they commit any crime at a campus protest. The bill would cover someone convicted of “any offense” under “any Federal or State law” that is “related to the individual’s conduct at and during the course of a protest” at a college or university. As such, a student convicted of even a nonviolent, state law misdemeanor at a campus protest, such as failing to disperse, would be deemed ineligible for federal student loans; they would also be ineligible for having existing federal loans forgiven, cancelled, waived or modified. The sponsor of the bill said it was a response to pro-Palestine protests at colleges and universities.
(Read full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre…)
Status: pending
Introduced 11 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Limit on Public Benefits

#HR1057: Penalties for protesters on interstate #highways

Would create steep new penalties for protesters deemed to be “deliberately delaying traffic,” “standing or approaching a motor vehicle,” or “endangering the safe movement of a motor vehicle” on an interstate highway “with the intent to obstruct the free, convenient, and normal use of the interstate highway.” The new federal offense would be punishable by up to $10,000 and 15 years in prison—a far harsher penalty than is the case under many states' laws, which generally already criminalize walking or standing on the highway. The bill provides an exception for “any lawful activity” authorized by federal, state, or local law. However, it could still seemingly cover far more than “blocking” the interstate, including a peaceful protest on the shoulder of an interstate or a convoy-style, driving protest that slowed traffic. The sponsor of the bill made clear that it was in response to protesters. The same bill was introduced as HR 7349 in 2024.
(Full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre…)
Status: pending
Introduced 6 Feb 2025.
Issue(s): #TrafficInterference

#ProtestLaws #protestors #protestors_in_prison #CivilLiberties #Fascism #USA #USPol #NoKings #Project2025 #TrumpIsAFascist

1/2 US Protest Law Tracker - Updates to #Federal #Protest Laws introduced in 2025.

Latest updates: Jun. 10, 2025 (US Federal)

Providing for deportation of non-citizens who commit protest-related offenses

Would cancel the visa of any individual convicted of protest-related crimes and provide for the individual’s deportation within 60 days. Under the bill, individuals convicted of any “crime (i) related to [their] conduct at and during the course of a protest; (ii) involving the defacement, vandalism, or destruction of Federal property; or (iii) involving the intentional obstruction of any highway, road, bridge, or tunnel” would be deportable. The bill requires that such individuals’ visas be “immediately” cancelled and the individuals removed from the US within 60 days. If enacted, a non-citizen convicted of even a nonviolent misdemeanor “related to” a protest, such as trespass or disorderly conduct, could face deportation. The bill’s sponsor cited protests around immigration raids in #LosAngeles as the impetus for his bill.
(Full text of Bill: cotton.senate.gov/imo/media/do…)
Status: pending
Introduced 10 Jun 2025.
Issue(s): Traffic Interference

Heightened penalties for "#riot" offenses

Would amend the federal #AntiRioting law to raise the maximum penalty to ten years in prison, instead of five, for participating in or inciting a “riot,” or aiding or abetting someone to do so. The federal definition of “riot” is broad, requiring only a “public disturbance” where one individual in a group commits violence. Under the bill, someone who committed or abetted an “act of violence” during the commission of a “riot” offense would face a minimum one-year sentence, while an individual who assaulted a law enforcement officer would face a sentence of at least one year and up to life in prison. Federal law defines “act of violence” broadly to include using force against #property—or just attempting or threatening to use such force. As such, if enacted, the bill could result in steep criminal penalties for protesters who do not actually engage in violence or destructive conduct. The bill’s sponsor cited protests around immigration raids in Los Angeles as the impetus for his bill.
Status: pending
Introduced 10 Jun 2025.
Issue(s): Riot

HR 2272: Blocking #FinancialAid to students who commit a "riot"-related offense

Would bar federal financial assistance and loan forgiveness for any student convicted of a crime in connection with a “riot.” The bar would apply to students convicted of “rioting” or “a) inciting a riot; b) organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying on a riot; c) committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or d) aiding or abetting any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot.” Many states define “riot” broadly enough to cover peaceful protest activity; many also have broad laws criminalizing “incitement to riot” that cover protected expression. The bill would bar financial aid and #LoanForgiveness for students convicted under such provisions. As written, the bill would also bar financial aid and loan forgiveness to students convicted of any offense related to “#organizing, #promoting, encouraging” a riot, or “aiding and abetting” incitement or participation in a riot, which could cover an even wider range of expressive conduct, from sharing a social media post to cheering on demonstrators in a protest that was deemed a “riot.”
(Full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre…)
Status: pending
Introduced 21 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): #CampusProtests, Riot, Limit on #PublicBenefits

#HR2273: Providing for visa revocation and deportation of #noncitizens who commit a "riot"-related offense

Would require the Secretary of State to revoke the visa of and make deportable a noncitizen #student, #scholar, #teacher, or #specialist convicted of a crime in connection with a “riot.” Under the bill, individuals in the US on an F-1, J-1, or M-1 visa would have their visas revoked and would be deportable if they were convicted of “rioting” or “a) inciting a riot; b) organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying on a riot; c) committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or d) aiding or abetting any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot.” Many states define “riot” broadly enough to cover peaceful protest activity; many also have broad laws criminalizing “incitement to riot” that cover protected expression. The bill would provide for the deportation of foreign students, scholars, and others convicted under such provisions. As written, the bill would also provide for their deportation if convicted of any offense related to “organizing, promoting, encouraging” a riot, or “aiding and abetting” incitement or participation in a riot, which could cover an even wider range of expressive conduct, from sharing a #SocialMediaPost to cheering on #demonstrators in a protest that was deemed a “riot.”
(Full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre…)
Status: pending
Introduced 21 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot

#S1017: New federal criminal penalties for protests near #pipelines

Would create a new federal #felony offense that could apply to protests of planned or operational pipelines. The bill would broadly criminalize under federal law “knowingly and willfully” “#vandalizing, tampering with, disrupting the operation or construction of, or preventing the operation or construction of” a gas pipeline. A range of peaceful activities could be deemed “disrupting… the construction of” a pipeline, from a rally that obstructs a road used by construction equipment, to a #lawsuit challenging a pipeline’s #permit or# zoning approval. The bill does not define “disrupt,” such that even a brief delay would seemingly be covered. Further, the underlying law provides that any "attempt" or "conspiracy" to commit the offense would be punished the same as actual commission. As such, individuals as well as organizations that engage in the planning or facilitation of a protest that is deemed to “disrupt” pipeline construction could be covered. The offense would be punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for an individual, or $500,000 for an organization.
(Full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre…)
Status: pending
Introduced 13 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, #Infrastructure

#ProtestLaws #protestors #protestors_in_prison #CivilLiberties #Fascism #USA #USPol #NoKings #Project2025 #TrumpIsAFascist