J. Mark Worth

Action taken by the Maine Legislature that's now in law:

Over the past two years, we’ve passed major legislation that will build a fairer economy and make it easier for more Maine families to make ends meet.

These investments will put money directly back in the pockets of everyday Mainers and support families at each stage of life – so all Mainers have a chance to reach their full potential.

All of the non-emergency laws that passed this year are now in effect!
From investing in housing and child care to protecting health care providers from extreme laws in other states, the Legislature continued to put Maine families first while defending Mainers’ rights and freedoms.

Mainers will be asked to vote on the state flag this November. Here is the 1901 Maine flag, which is ALSO the proposed NEW flag. The current Maine flag -- a dark blue background with the state seal in the middle and a Latin motto, is almost identical to the Michigan flag (where I grew up) and several other state flags. I'll vote for the more distinctive 1901 Maine flag, the pine tree flag shown here.

Welcome to the Olympics!

I support Kamala Harris for President of the United States!

Vice President Kamala Harris has emphasized her readiness to take on Trump: As a prosecutor and California Attorney General, Harris took on "predators who abused women; fraudsters who ripped off consumers; cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump's type," she said to loud applause. Harris continued by citing Trump’s civil court judgment that he committed sexual assault, his fraudulent for-profit university and criminal convictions this spring for falsifying business records.
"Donald Trump wants to take our country backwards to a time before many of our fellow Americans had full freedoms and rights, but we believe in a brighter future that makes room for all Americans," said Harris.

Working waterfronts are a cornerstone of our coastal communities and economy - but devastating storms have shown us how vulnerable they are to extreme weather. Today, I announced a series of investments that will help preserve 68 working waterfronts for generations to come.

My Administration will award 68 working waterfronts a total of $21.2 million in grants from the Working Waterfront Resilience Grant Program. These grants were authorized as part of my $60 million storm relief package approved by the legislature in May.

In total, the $60 million in storm relief represents single largest investment in storm recovery by any Administration in Maine history. To read more about the 68 Working Waterfronts awarded grants today, visit https://bit.ly/3YeWuXb

"Vice President Kamala Harris said she plans to seek the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden stepped aside and endorsed her, setting up a push that could make her the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead the ticket of a major political party. ... In the weeks since Biden’s June debate performance, Harris has settled into a groove, becoming a key surrogate for Biden’s reelection campaign on reproductive health as the campaign put it, the threat Trump poses to democracy."

Harris will seek Democratic nomination and could be the first Black woman and Asian American to lead a major party ticket | CNN Politics Vice President Kamala Harris said she plans to seek the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden stepped aside and endorsed her, setting up a push that could make her the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead the ticket of a major political party.

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A helpful note from my friend Rep. Daniel Hobbs

For many families, summer vacation means tighter food budgets without the help of school breakfast and lunch.

SUN Bucks is a federal program that helps families of eligible students buy healthy food over the summer. If your student was automatically enrolled, you may receive a Pine Tree Card in the mail sometime in the next few weeks. If your family already uses a Pine Tree Card, benefits will be added to your existing card.

If you believe your student is eligible but was not automatically enrolled, you can apply for SUN Bucks between now and Aug. 15.

Learn more here: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/food-supplement/sun_bucks

Maine Governor Janet Mills posted on X (formerly known as Twitter): "Please join me in praying for the health and safety of former President Trump, those who attended his rally today [July 13], and our country. There is absolutely no place for violence in our politics - none." I agree with this statement from Gov. Mills. We must not tolerate political violence by any side.

Maine's new paid family and medical leave could make certain jobs more accessible, equitable • Maine Morning Star Proponents said Maine's new paid family and medical leave policy will make many jobs in the state more accessible and equitable for parents and family caregivers.

Here I was in 1954, age 6, in Detroit, Michigan, front of our family car (a 1952 Ford). My sister recently mailed me this old photo!

Two years ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, revoking federal protections for abortion care.

Since then, House Democrats have defended reproductive freedom in Maine – and we’ll always fight to preserve access to this care.

I'm pleased to announce that I've been endorsed for re-election by the Maine AFL-CIO, and by the MSEA-SEIU (Maine Service Employees Association-Service Employees International Union. The Maine AFL-CIO is a state federation of over 160 local labor unions representing over 40,000 working men and women and retirees across th state of Maine. The MSEA-SEIU is a member-run union of over 13,000 active and retired Maine workers across over twenty employers in the public and private sectors.

My friend/significant other Elaine and I went to the Deer Isle, Maine, 4th of July parade yesterday -- lots of Red, White and Blue, and classic cars! We went with her 3 daughters (one has a home on Deer Isle) and other members of her family. In the afternoon I played my euphonium in the Castine Town Band's 4th of July Concert on the Castine Town Common. Maine's towns and cities have wonderful Independence Day celebrations! 🇺🇸

I'm pleased to announce that the Maine Education Association (MEA) has endorsed my candidacy for re-election to the Maine House of Representatives. The MEA writes, "Your early endorsement is due to your voting record over the past two years. We appreciate your efforts to vote for public education in Maine and for legislation to advance the interests of working people."

“Hurricanes are terrible. Earthquakes are terrible. But actually, heat is the number one killer now of the climate emergency of any weather-related event,” says Jean Su, director of the Energy Justice Program at the Center for Biological Diversity.

Why isn’t extreme heat considered a disaster in the U.S.? The Federal Emergency Management Agency has never responded to deadly or damaging extreme heat. Environmental groups and labor unions are asking for that to change.

Today’s Supreme Court ruling means that access to medication abortion remains legal here in Maine, but extreme attacks on abortion care and reproductive freedom continue.

We will never stop fighting to protect Mainers’ fundamental rights.

Happy Juneteenth/Freedom Day, celebrating the end of slavery -- June 19, 1865 -- when Union (United States) troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Although this date commemorates enslaved people learning of their freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation, this only applied to former Confederate states. There remained legally enslaved people in states that never seceded from the Union. These people did not gain their freedom until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 6, 1865.

On Sunday, June 9, I was at the Pride Festival held in Ellsworth at Knowlton Park close to my home. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (who graduated from Ellsworth High School) gave a good address to the crowd. Photo, left to right: Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, me, State Rep. Holly Eaton (D-Stonington).

Happy !

House Democrats will always stand with our LGBTQ+ community and continue to uplift initiatives that support the freedoms all LGBTQ+ Mainers deserve.

French President Emmanuel Macron along with President Joe Biden honored American veterans who stormed the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago, marking the beginning of the end of World War II.

‘Sends tingles down your spine’: See emotional moment presidents honor D-Day heroes | CNN French President Emmanuel Macron along with President Joe Biden honored American veterans who stormed the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago, marking the beginning of the end of World War II.

At the Maine Democratic Party State Convention, Saturday June 1, State Representatives and candidates were asked to come on stage to be seen by the delegates and guests. My friend and campaign manager Marc Rich zoomed in on me and took this photo.
On Friday evening, May 31, I gave the Convention's opening prayer.
At the present time, 60% of the Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives are women. The Speaker, Majority Leader, and Assistant Majority Leader are all women as well!

Last Friday, we joined Governor Janet Mills as she signed LD 2085, An Act to Update Maine’s Domestic Violence and Stalking Laws. Domestic violence stalking is not only associated with a greater risk of physical violence, it is also known to increase the victim’s risk for ultimately being killed by their partner. LD 2085 ensures that Maine’s civil and criminal legal systems will continue to have the tools they need to address the safety issues we know always at play when perpetrators engage in this dangerous behavior.

With us are lead sponsor Senator Anne Carney and supporter Senator Jill Duson along with our colleagues from the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, and the Maine Prosecutors Association. Many thanks to Senator Carney for partnering with us in this effort and to Governor Mills for her support of this crucial new law!

Because I had a heart procedure the previous day, and was under doctor's orders to rest and to not drive, I missed the last day of the 131st legislature, known as "veto day".

Maine Legislature adjourns without definitive action on dozens of bills • Maine Morning Star Reflecting on moments of bipartisanship and the tragedies that drove much of their work, members of the Maine Legislature adjourned for the year on Friday night. However, the Maine House of Representatives concluded without taking action on dozens of bills. Earlier in the week, the budget committee....