President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ is up for debate in the Senate. To fund tax breaks for the wealthy it contains numerous provisions which will hurt Maine and Lincoln County, including deep cuts to SNAP benefits and Medicaid (MaineCare).

One out of eight Lincoln County residents rely on SNAP benefits for groceries. More than 50% of Maine children receive healthcare through MaineCare. This budget cuts programs for the most needy to fund tax breaks for the least needy.

Over the past couple of weeks, Lincoln County Indivisible (LCI) has printed and distributed thousands of leaflets asking Lincoln County residents to call or email Senator Collins requesting she oppose this budget. On Saturday, in somewhat miserable weather, LCI supporters lined both sides of the Newcastle/Damariscotta bridge with the message ‘Susan Collins, stand up for Mainers, not billionaires’.

Nevertheless, Saturday night Senator Collins provided a critical vote to advance the bill in the Senate. She delivered a vote which will bring this bill, which is so damaging to Maine and Lincoln County, a major step closer to being passed.

There will be additional votes in the Senate. Until it is done, LCI will continue its efforts to persuade our neighbors to call and write Senator Collins asking her to do the right thing for Mainers, not billionaires. It is not too late for her to change her vote and rally the handful of colleagues necessary to stop this bill, enabling the Senate to start again and craft a bill that works for the 99 percent, not the 1 percent.

For further information, contact Nigel Calder, 207-563-2184 and nigel.calder@gmail.com