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Fund for a Health Maine
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Michelle Small
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Apr 15, 2004 06:38 PDT
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Hi Friends of the FHM,
Share this email widely as you see fit.
Thanks to those of you who've forwarded our ACTION ALERT and placed phone
calls with legislators re: voting 'yes' on LD1612, the constitutional
amendment to preserve the FHM. There's still time to make the calls, if you
haven't already done so, and calls can also be made in the evenings, as
there is an answering machine during off hours. I'll paste the phone
numbers and message below.
Meanwhile, I wanted to give you an update on the status and schedule of
LD1612. At this point the Legislature is still looking to adjourn at the
end of this week. But that could very well mean Saturday night (Sunday
morning?!). At this time we are still waiting for LD1612 to show up on the
calendar - we now believe it will be voted on Friday or Saturday (plenty
of time for lots more calls - they will have a big impact !).
For those of you who can make it, we would very much appreciate any time you
could spend at the State House with us on Friday or Saturday (Thursday
afternoon is also an option). In the next 48 hours we are hoping to
check-in with as many legislators as possible so we'll need any help you can
offer. Many of the contacts will be easy (we have many strong supporters);
some will be more challenging but very valuable - you can choose your
"degree of difficulty"!
Please consider helping us with this direct action. Let me know if you
think you can be there, or if it's last minute, just show up (we'll be the
ones with the "Send it to the Voters" stickers on!).
Thanks again for all your help - we are crossing our fingers that the
political squabbling will be set aside for the common goal of preserving the
Fund!
Hope to see you there,
Carol
Carol Kelly
Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health
207-828-0810
Phone call information:
ACTION ALERT to preserve the Fund for a Healthy Maine !
PLEASE TAKE ACTION! PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL OF YOUR CONTACTS!
We expect the Legislature to vote on LD 1612, the constitutional amendment
to preserve the Fund for a Healthy Maine for its intended health purposes,
on Friday, April 16th.
We need your help on Thursday the 15th (or Friday morning at the latest) !
We need to tell legislators that it's time to send this proposal on to the
voters and
let them have the final say. We need legislators to be OVERWHELMED with
phone calls.
These are two easy calls - you'll only be leaving messages !
Please call the numbers below and leave the following message:
"My name is ____ from (town). I'm calling to ask Rep X/Senator X to vote
YES on LD 1612 and send it on to the voters!"
House: 1-800-423-2900
Senate: 1-800-423-6900
Most lawmakers agree that the Fund for a Healthy Maine needs to be
permanently preserved for health programs only. Most agreed last year to
support LD 1612. But at the end of the 2003 legislative session the
constitutional amendment proposal became embroiled in political
horse-trading efforts by some lawmakers hoping to pass other unrelated
proposals.
Just over the past two weeks, while the Legislature was working on the
supplemental budget, a $3 million cut was proposed to the FHM. We were able
to rally targeted grassroots support and no cuts were made. These threats
will continue. Every time there is a budget shortfall, legislators will be
tempted to take this money. We need to protect the FHM now!
As with every constitutional amendment, it can only passed by Maine voters
on a November ballot. It's time for the Legislature to let Maine voters have
their final say. Public support for LD1612 is very strong. In a statewide survey conducted
in December 2003, 75% of Mainers polled support passage of a constitutional
amendment to preserve the FHM. It's time to permanently preserve the Fund for a
Healthy Maine once and for all. We often say that this bold step will be the legacy of
the 121st Legislature, but it will be ours, too. A legacy for healthy
generations to come!
Michelle A. Small, Esq.
Director of Programs and Policy
Consumers for Affordable Health Care
39 Green Street
P.O. Box 2490
Augusta, ME 04338-2490
207.622.7083 Foundation
207.622.7045 Coalition
207.622.7077 Fax
www.mainecahc.org
Advocating the right to health care for every man, woman and child.
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