Beacon Podcast

This week on the Beacon podcast, Taryn Ben and Mike discuss Gov. LePage’s tax remarks (and whether they’re a malicious lie or just betray a basic ignorance) and the Republicans’ politically self-defeating stand for new tax cuts for the wealthy.

Also: there’s a new federal health care repeal bill and Rep. Poliquin once again refuses to take a position, Taryn gives a legislative update from the halls of the State House and a special guest stops by for a solar-powered ray of hope.

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You can leave a message for the show at (207) 619-3182.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike talk about the bill winding its way through the Maine legislature to allow women to access a 12-month supply of birth control. They also examine the nascent campaigns of Terry Hayes and Adam Cote, the first candidates to announce they’re running for governor.

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You can leave a message for the show at (207) 619-3182.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Garrett Martin of the Maine Center for Economic Policy joins Taryn, Ben and Mike to talk about Maine’s state budget, examining Governor LePage’s proposal, the Democrats’ Opportunity Agenda and explaining what happens next.

How can you take action? Join the Stand up for Students lobby day on Tuesday to push back against Republican plans to undo the Question 2 referendum and give a massive new tax break to the wealthy.

Also, an update on Sen. Millett’s paid sick days bill and a new study on Medicaid expansion.

Here’s Ben’s book recommendation for the week.

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RIP Wessie.

Photo via Andi Parkinson.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Ben, Taryn and Mike discuss in detail the legislative hearing on rolling back Maine’s minimum wage law that lasted until 1 a.m. on Wednesday and Ben explains how you can get involved in local meetings to strategize on preventing President Trump’s next health care repeal attempt and passing Medicaid expansion in Maine.

Also: Mainers protest the nuclear option on the filibuster wearing hazmat suits, Sen. Millett’s bill to guarantee paid family leave will be heard on Monday, Ben highly recommends reading this article titled Housekeepers vs. Harvard (and Taryn boos Sheryl Sandberg), and Rep. Melaragno waits ten hours to give three minutes of incredible testimony on standing up for Maine workers.

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Photo via Paul Schafer.

Sometimes, especially since the election of President Trump, we forget that it isn’t normal to have a chief executive who lies, contradicts himself and makes strange policy proclamations on a daily basis. On this episode of the Beacon Podcast, Ben, Taryn and Mike examine a week in Maine politics through the lens of LePages actions and antics on health care, the minimum wage, Real ID,  taxes and his threats to leave the state.

Also, Ben’s book review recommendations by Rich Yeselson: When Labor Fought for Civil Rights and At Labor’s Crossroads.

And a reminder to join us Wednesday at the State House to stand up for the minimum wage.

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Photo via official website.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike discuss a new report from the Maine Center for Economic Policy showing how the government of Maine has forfeited or ignored more than $1.9 billion in federal funding since 2011 that could have gone to health care, economic development and other state priorities, at a cost of nearly 5,000 jobs annually.

They also cover a recent Bangor Daily News article that tells a similar story of money that could be going to providing child care for Maine families, the impending vote on repealing the Affordable Care Act in the House, Rep. Larry Lockman’s absolutely insane new bill on climate change and how people who read Harry Potter have lower opinions of Donald Trump.

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Photo via Andi Parkinson.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Mike, Taryn and Ben talk health care, including the effects on Mainers of the Republican health care proposal and what a new poll tells us about the potential political cost to Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Bruce Poliquin. Also, positive new jobs numbers show the minimum wage increase didn’t actually cause the sky to fall.

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Photo via Rep. Poliquin official site.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Taryn and Mike are joined by Robyn Merrill of Maine Equal Justice Partners to discuss the Republican health care plan, the state budget and what’s next for progressive organizing after the Resistance Summit last weekend.

They explain why LePage hates the Republican health care proposal: Despite costing far more and covering far fewer people than Obamacare, with tax cuts for the wealthy paid for by the poor, sick and elderly, he doesn’t think it cuts people off of health care quite fast enough. Also, even this far-right plan still incentivizes states to expand Medicaid coverage (a proposal he has vetoed five times and is now headed to the ballot this November).

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Photo via Sue Aubrey.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben, Taryn and Mike discuss the Resistance Summit being held this Sunday at the Augusta Civic Center. More than 700 Mainers have already RSVP’d for a packed agenda, including 18 skill-building workshops and a question and answer session with Rep. Chellie Pingree. Registration is still open here and you can find more information and connect with other attendees at the Summit Facebook event.

Also on the podcast this week: Eight Democratic lawmakers split with their party and with Maine voters to support bills rolling back part of Maine’s new minimum wage law and, after a close race two years ago, Ben is running again for mayor of Lewiston.

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Photo via Sarah Rawlings.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike talk about the wave of protests that greeted Sen. Susan Collins on her return to the state, including an especially moving silent vigil as she walked out of the Maine Public Radio studio on Wednesday.

They also cover the certification of the signatures to place a health care expansion referendum on the November ballot and the launch of a campaign for guaranteed child and elderly care.

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Here’s one video of Collins’ walk, from the Mid-Coast Indivisible group:

Update: There were some issues with the original audio file. Should be fixed now!