Next week during Congressional Recess, ordinary people from around the state will deliver a letter to Sen. Susan Collins’ offices around the state letting her know that we expect her to use her powerful position in the Senate to protect Mainers, and all Americans. Can you sign on to the letter below to really hold Sen. Collins to account?
When Collins was elected to her most recent term, she promised to “fight hard every day for the people of Maine.” Instead, she’s voted for all but one of Pres. Trump’s terrible cabinet nominees. She’s voted to give Trump more power. And while she’s occasionally spoken and even voted against some of his policies that will be most catastrophic for Maine, she’s only done it when it doesn’t really matter (like when she voted for a bill to end new Canadian tariffs which has very little chance of becoming law).
That doesn’t seem like “fighting hard” for Maine. And it doesn’t bode well for the future. So, it’s time to remind Sen. Collins what fighting hard for our state really looks like: Protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Affordable Care Act. If you agree, sign our letter demanding she protect these programs!
Letter to Sen. Susan Collins:
Dear Sen. Collins,
As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, you are at the center of Congressional debate about federal taxation and spending. Under consideration this year are an extension of the “Trump” tax cuts of 2017 and even further tax cuts that continue to favor the wealthiest individuals and corporations disproportionately. In order to pay for these unwarranted tax cuts, Congress is also considering massive reductions to spending on social and healthcare programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Meanwhile, we are seeing the Trump Administration take devastating action against congressionally authorized and funded programs all across the government. (The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, so essential to many Mainers, is just one example among a multitude.)
We Mainers did not vote for these cuts to our vital programs or for tax cuts benefiting those who already have it all, nor did we vote to allow the Executive branch to circumvent the Legislative power of the purse.
We expect you to use your powerful position in the Senate to protect the well-being of all Mainers—and by extension all Americans. Consider how many Mainers rely on federal support and healthcare programs, including programs to which they have contributed throughout their working lives:
Social Security
As of December 2023, 369,221 Mainers were receiving Social Security benefits. That’s more than a quarter of our population. Many could not eat or stay in their homes without it.
Medicare
In 2024 there were 375,784 Medicare beneficiaries in Maine—also more than a quarter of the population. Most could not afford any healthcare without it.
Medicaid and CHIP
In 2024 Medicaid and CHIP enrollment in Maine totaled 365,407—again, more than a quarter of the population. In 2022 Medicaid financed 37% of births in Maine. Who would pay for the arrival of these newborn Mainers if their mothers didn’t have Medicaid? Thank you for your recent statement affirming your determination to preserve federal funding for Medicaid.
Affordable Care Act
In 2024 59,397 Mainers enrolled in health insurance plans through the ACA Marketplace. About 85% of these enrollees received advance payments of the premium tax credit, helping them to moderate the heavy burdens of healthcare costs. Those tax credits will expire this year if Congress does not renew them. In that case lower-income enrollees would experience the steepest premium increases, while middle-income enrollees would risk losing their subsidized Marketplace coverage.
Despite Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the ACA, 10.2% of Mainers have medical debt. And about 6 percent remain uninsured.
All Mainers—and all Americans—need you to protect these programs to the fullest, so that all Mainers—and all Americans—can survive and thrive. We are urging you to oppose the proposed tax cuts. The Trump proposal would cripple the most vulnerable parts of our population and raise the national debt disastrously, all to line the pockets of those who already have the deepest pockets.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
The undersigned
