In recent weeks, I’ve been hearing from folks in my district regarding their concerns about events and statements made at the federal level and their impact here in Maine. While I too am alarmed by the actions that our federal government has taken in the last few weeks, I’m comforted by the hard work being done by my colleagues and myself at the State House. We are committed to protecting our communities and exercising Maine’s state rights despite of President Trump’s threats.

The Trump administration’s actions may feel intimidating, but the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the rights of the states from certain types of infringement. It limits the power of the federal government to only those delegated to it by the Constitution. Those not included nor forbidden to the states, are reserved for the states. This creates a separation of powers that allows the state of Maine to continue to serve all Mainers. It is an important check on federal power that must be upheld.

With this in mind, I feel that it’s important to highlight many of the state run programs that I’ll work to preserve as they continue to provide essential services. Maine’s education system has been making headlines recently, particularly over threats to eliminate federal funding for it. I want you to know that the state government will continue to help fund our schools. My colleagues and I are working hard to protect young Mainers’ access to education and other valuable programs, such as continuing our free school meals initiative.

Here at the State House, we are also fighting to continue to provide Mainers with access to quality and affordable health care. MaineCare provides essential and lifesaving services to our communities, and my colleagues and I have been working tirelessly to pass a supplemental budget to allocate the necessary funding for these services. Despite threats to Medicaid on the federal level, we here in Maine are committed to preserving this necessary program.

Maine also has its own commitment at the state level to protecting our natural resources and investing in programs that will ensure we leave future generations a strong, safe and healthy community. The “Maine Won’t Wait” plan is a four-year outline of environmental goals meant to protect our way of life. Its resilience and recovery initiatives will help protect our homes and businesses as extreme weather becomes more frequent. The program also commits Maine to growing its clean and efficient energy sectors. Investing in these sectors will not only create thousands of well-paying jobs for Maine families, but also help local businesses save on operating costs.

Furthermore, what makes our state strong enough to take on threats against it is our record of high civic engagement. The most recent Census data ranks Maine first in the nation in attending public meetings and fourth in contacting public officials. Meaningful engagement with your local and state governments ensures they respond to the issues that matter most to you. It strengthens the relationships between communities and those who represent them in the State House. Hearing from you guides the decisions I make in Augusta to best serve you. You can make your voice heard by submitting testimony and attending public hearings on bills that you care about. You can learn more about this process by visiting mainesenate.org/testify/.

As always, I am a resource for you, your family and our community. If you need assistance or have any questions for me, please reach out at Stacy.Brenner@legislature.maine.gov or call my Senate office at (207) 287-1515. I will do my best to help.