Legislators are considering LD 2007, a bill that draws on the consensus recommendations issued by a bipartisan task force to address long-standing issues with the 1980 Maine Settlement Acts (Maine Implementing Act, state legislation, which only took effect upon signing of the federal Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act). A public hearing will be held at 10 am Monday, February 26, so now is a great time to contact your legislators and legislative leaders and let them know why you support this bill, and why they should too! Here are some tips to get you started.
FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS
Not sure who your legislators are? You can find them and their email address and phone number in the Maine Voter Lookup. Just enter your address and then select the “Elected Officials” tab. Want to share your thoughts with Gov. Janet Mills? Find her contact info here. The form is suitable for a quick message to Governor Mills. If you have the time, consider writing her an actual letter.
SEND AN EMAIL
Emails from constituents can be very persuasive. Consider explaining how LD 2007 would benefit you, your family, and community. Sharing that story with your elected officials will go a long way toward swaying them to support this bill. Be sure to include your name, town, and contact information so they can follow-up with you.
GIVE THEM A CALL
Emailing your legislators is good, but if you want to make sure they get the message, give them a call! Legislators’ phone numbers are listed on the Maine Voter Lookup page. If you have to leave a message, be sure to include your name, town, and contact information so they can reach out to you with a response!
STOP BY THE STATE HOUSE
If the Legislature is in session, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find your legislators at the State House! You should also stay tuned for information about the 2024 Wabanaki Alliance Lobby Day this spring. Sign up for our email list and we’ll send you the details as soon as they are available.
NEED MORE BACKGROUND ON THE BILL?
Want to learn a little more about the bill before you contact your legislators? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for an overview on LD 2007, why the tribes support it, and why your legislators should too. Find the FAQ here.
STILL NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY?
We’ve created some talking points on the bill that may help you get started. Find the talking points here.
REPURPOSE YOUR EMAIL!
Now that you’ve written that email to your legislator, why not share it with others as a letter to the editor (LTE) for your local newspaper? We’ve created an LTE guide with tips for letters and contact info for daily and weekly newspapers. Find the LTE Guide here. And be sure to hang on to your letter. It’ll be a great start for your testimony in support of LD 2007 (More on that later!).
