The executive branch’s dispute with Maine is not about women’s rights. Executive branch positions on issues such as a woman’s right to make her own medical decisions and the SAVE Act demonstrate contempt for women.
Nor is it about our extremely small population of transgender athletes. Transgender athletes exist in other states. These children are simply trying to have a positive high school experience. Maine’s excellent Human Rights Act protects both groups.
It’s about power.
The executive branch is using funding for food and education for children as a weapon to force Maine to capitulate to its dictates. This is despicable.
It is the prerogative of the legislative branch, not the executive branch, to distribute this funding. Our government has checks and balances to prevent any branch from becoming excessively powerful. If Maine capitulates, it is reasonable to expect the executive branch to go on to bully other states to strengthen its power, damaging our democratic form of government.
Now is the time for Maine to live up to our motto, Dirigo, “I lead.” Mainers are proud of our independence and how we help one another. No matter which party you support, now is the time for Mainers to stand as one, to show the executive branch that it cannot roll over our rights and our state laws, to show other states what it means to be strong, in short, to defend our democracy as true patriots.
Maine must not capitulate!
Ann Dieffenbacher-Krall
Old Town
