The Wabanaki Alliance issued its first Maine Legislative Scorecard for the 129th Legislature (2019-2020). The Maine legislature voted on various pieces of legislation which were steps towards the Maine tribes’ quest to be treated equally to every other tribe in the country. Unfortunately, because of COVID 19, the legislature adjourned and did not vote on the most consequential tribal legislation in forty years, LD 2094 “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act.”
LD 2094 was vigorously vetted in numerous public hearings and work sessions. In July, the Judiciary Committee met to finalize LD 2094 and vote out the legislation in anticipation of the legislature being called back into session. This did not happen.
LD 2094 was an omnibus piece of legislation which would place the tribes in Maine on the same or similar footing as every other federally recognized tribe in the country. One legislator on the Judiciary Committee requested that LD 2094 be broken up into individual pieces of legislation. Those pieces of legislation became LD 1392 , LD 2094 and LD 2118. The tribes in Maine agreed and the Judiciary Committee voted on the three pieces of legislation.
LD 1392 had to do with tax, criminal jurisdiction and land acquisition. LD 2094 maintained the original language minus tribal gaming. LD 2118 would allow tribal gaming on tribal lands. All three pieces of legislation received substantial support from Judiciary Committee members. We hope to build from this support during the 130th legislature.
Through this emotional and constructive process, the tribes in Maine discovered “Tribal Champions” and “Tribal Adversaries.” We would like to take this opportunity to highlight these legislators.
TRIBAL CHAMPIONS
These are the legislators who worked in concert with the tribes to achieve the tribes’ legislative goals. These legislators went above and beyond to ensure fairness for the tribes in Maine by fighting for legislation to provide same or similar sovereignty as the nearly 500 other tribes across America. To these legislators we say – Woliwon (thank you).
- Senate President, Troy Jackson, Aroostook County, Democrat
- Speaker of the House, Sara Gideon, Freeport, Democrat
- Senator Shenna Bellows, Kennebec County, Democrat
- Senator Michael Carpenter, Aroostook County, Democrat
- Senator Marianne Moore, Washington County, Republican
- Representative Donna Bailey, Saco, Democrat
- Representative Ben Collings, Portland, Democrat
- Representative John DeVeau, Caribou, Republican
- Representative Jeffrey Evangelos, Friendship, Independent
- Representative Thom Harnett, Gardiner, Democrat
- Representative Anne Perry, Calais, Democrat
- Representative Lois Reckitt, South Portland, Democrat
- Representative Rachel Talbot Ross, Portland, Democrat
TRIBAL ADVERSARIES
The Tribes in Maine understand compromise is needed on both sides. We are willing and waiting to work with anyone who is interested in coming to the table. However, these legislators displayed a complete disinterest in working collaboratively with the tribes; fought to protect large corporate interests at the expense of tribal fairness; showed outright hostility towards the tribes and their allies; and/or scored a 0% on the Wabanaki Alliance Legislative Scorecard.
- Representative Chris Babbidge, Kennebunk, Democrat
- Representative Barbara Cardone, Bangor, Democrat
- Senator Lisa Keim, Oxford County, Republican
- Representative Lawrence Lockman, Bradley, Republican
- Representative Roger Reed, Carmel, Republican
- Representative Trey Stewart, Presque Isle, Republican
Though the Wabanaki Alliance is disappointed that the legislation intended by LD 2094 never had a vote in the House and Senate, there was legislation voted on that took steps towards fairness, equality and respect for the tribes. We have provided a score to indicate the cumulative support of each legislator regarding tribal issues in Maine. Each piece of legislation carries the same weight in scoring. Legislative committee and Maine Indian Claims Task Force votes are not included. The legislation encompassed in the Wabanaki Alliance Legislative Scorecard is as follows:
LD 179 An Act To Change the Name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day: A YES vote supported the position of the Wabanaki Alliance.
LD 553 An Act To Ensure Proper Oversight of Sports Betting in the State: The Governor vetoed the legislation which would have allowed tribes in Maine to conduct sports betting. A YES vote was a vote to override the Governor’s veto to allow sports betting and supported the Wabanaki Alliance position.
LD 776 An Act Regarding the Penobscot Nation’s and Passamaquoddy Tribe’s Authority To Exercise Jurisdiction under the Federal Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 and the Federal Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013: The legislation amends the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act in a way that transfers jurisdiction over a person who is not a member of either tribe or nation in accordance with federal law and increases the level of certain criminal offenses. A tabling motion in the House would have jeopardized the legislation. A NO vote on the tabling motion supported the Wabanaki Alliance position. There was no vote in the Senate.
LD 777 An Act To Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations: The Commission was created to carry out research necessary to determine the status of historically disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal populations, including the study of income levels of and opportunities available to historically disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal populations and the examination of quantitative and qualitative data associated with those populations regarding business ownership, household assets, debts and income, housing, employment, education, health care and access to wealth, capital and benefits. A YES vote supported the Wabanaki Alliance position.
LD 944 An Act To Ban Native American Mascots in All Public Schools: The first in the nation legislation prohibits a public school from having or adopting a name, symbol or image that depicts or refers to a Native American tribe, individual, custom or tradition and that is used as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead or team name of the school. A YES vote supported the Wabanaki Alliance position.
LD 1743 An Act To Reclassify Certain Waters of the State: The legislation will update classifications for certain waters based on water quality data. For the first time in nearly 10 years, Maine considered upgrading the water quality classification of hundreds of miles of rivers and streams. A YES vote supported the Wabanaki Alliance position.
LD 1775 An Act To Protect Sustenance Fishing: The legislation created a new designation of “sustenance fishing” under Maine’s water quality classification system. The new legal designation will enable safe consumption of up to 50 ounces per person per week of fish taken from the designated waterbodies. A YES vote supported the Wabanaki Alliance position.
We hope that you find this information useful in how you can support the tribes in Maine and the Wabanaki Alliance.
Woliwon/Woliwoni/Wolalin
MAINE STATE SENATE
| Name | Party | SCORE | LD 179 Indigenous Day |
LD 944 Ban Mascots |
LD 1743 Reclassify Water |
LD 1775 Sust. Fishing |
LD 777 Comm. Race |
LD 553 Sports Betting |
LD 766 VAWA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BELLOWS of Kennebec | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| BLACK of Franklin | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | NA |
| BREEN of Cumberland | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | NA |
| CARPENTER of Aroostook | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| CARSON of Cumberland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| CHENETTE of York | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | E | NA |
| CHIPMAN of Cumberland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| CLAXTON of Androscoggin | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| CYRWAY of Kennebec | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | NA |
| DAVIS of Piscataquis | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | NA |
| DESCHAMBAULT of York | D | 80% | N | E | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| DIAMOND of Cumberland | D | 80% | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | E | NA |
| DILL of Penobscot | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| DOW of Lincoln | R | 50% | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N | NA |
| FARRIN of Somerset | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | NA |
| FOLEY of York | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | NA |
| GRATWICK of Penobscot | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | E | NA |
| GUERIN of Penobscot | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | NA |
| HAMPER of Oxford | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | NA |
| HERBIG of Waldo | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| JACKSON of Aroostook | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| KEIM of Oxford | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | NA |
| LAWRENCE of York | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | NA |
| LIBBY of Androscoggin | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| LUCHINI of Hancock | D | 100% | E | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| MILLETT of Cumberland | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | NA |
| MIRAMANT of Knox | D | 100% | Y | E | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| MOORE of Washington | R | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | NA |
| POULIOT of Kennebec | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | NA |
| ROSEN of Hancock | R | 75% | E | Y | Y | Y | N | E | NA |
| SANBORN of Cumberland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| SANBORN of Cumberland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | NA |
| VITELLI of Sagadahoc | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA |
| WOODSOME of York | R | 60% | N | Y | Y | Y | N | E | NA |
MAINE STATE REPRESENTATIVES
| Name | Party | SCORE | LD 179 Indigenous Day |
LD 944 Ban Mascots |
LD 1743 Reclassify Water |
LD 1775 Sust. Fishing |
LD 777 Comm. Race |
LD 553 Sports Betting |
LD 766 VAWA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACKLEY of Monmouth | C | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| ALLEY of Beals | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| ANDREWS of Paris | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| ARATA of New Gloucester | R | 20% | N | N | X | Y | NA | N | Y |
| AUSTIN of Skowhegan | D | 83% | Y | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| AUSTIN of Gray | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| BABBIDGE of Kennebunk | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| BABINE of Scarborough | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| BAILEY of Saco | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| BEEBE-CENTER of Rockland | D | 80% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | E |
| BERRY of Bowdoinham | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| BICKFORD of Auburn | R | 60% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | E |
| BLIER of Buxton | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| BLUME of York | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| BRADSTREET of Vassalboro | R | 20% | N | N | X | Y | NA | N | Y |
| BRENNAN of Portland | D | 80% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | E |
| BROOKS of Lewiston | D | 75% | Y | Y | E | E | NA | N | N |
| BRYANT of Windham | D | 100% | Y | Y | X | Y | NA | Y | N |
| CAIAZZO of Scarborough | D | 80% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | E |
| CAMPBELL of Orrington | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| CARDONE of Bangor | D | 80% | X | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| CARNEY of Cape Elizabeth | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| CEBRA of Naples | R | 60% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | E |
| CLOUTIER of Lewiston | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| COLLINGS of Portland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| COOPER of Yarmouth | D | 80% | X | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| COREY of Windham | R | 67% | N | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| COSTAIN of Plymouth | R | 40% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | E |
| CRAVEN of Lewiston | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| CROCKETT of Portland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| CUDDY of Winterport | D | 75% | Y | X | X | Y | NA | N | N |
| CURTIS of Madison | R | 17% | N | N | Y | N | NA | N | Y |
| DAUGHTRY of Brunswick | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | X | NA | Y | E |
| DENK of Kennebunk | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | E |
| DeVEAU of Caribou | R | 100% | X | X | X | X | NA | Y | N |
| DEVIN of Newcastle | D | 100% | E | E | E | E | NA | X | Y |
| DILLINGHAM of Oxford | R | 40% | X | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| DODGE of Belfast | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| DOLLOFF of Rumford | R | 33% | N | N | X | X | NA | Y | E |
| DOORE of Augusta | D | 80% | Y | X | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| DOUDERA of Camden | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | X | NA | Y | N |
| DRINKWATER of Milford | R | 50% | Y | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| DUNPHY of Old Town | D | 100% | Y | Y | X | Y | NA | Y | N |
| EVANGELOS of Friendship | I | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| FARNSWORTH of Portland | D | 80% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor | R | 60% | N | X | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| FAY of Raymond | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| FECTEAU of Augusta | R | 40% | N | N | Y | X | NA | Y | Y |
| FECTEAU of Biddeford | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| FOLEY of Biddeford | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| FOSTER of Dexter | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| GATTINE of Westbrook | D | 100% | Y | Y | X | Y | NA | Y | N |
| GIDEON of Freeport | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| GRIFFIN of Levant | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| GRIGNON of Athens | R | 50% | N | X | X | X | NA | X | Y |
| GROHOSKI of Ellsworth | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| HAGGAN of Hampden | R | 40% | X | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| HALL of Wilton | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| HANDY of Lewiston | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| HANINGTON of Lincoln | R | 17% | N | N | N | Y | NA | N | Y |
| HANLEY of Pittston | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| HARNETT of Gardiner | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| HARRINGTON of Sanford | R | 67% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| HEAD of Bethel | R | 60% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | E |
| HEPLER of Woolwich | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| HICKMAN of Winthrop | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| HIGGINS of Dover-Foxcroft | I | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| HOBBS of Wells | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| HUBBELL of Bar Harbor | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| HUTCHINS of Penobscot | R | 20% | N | N | X | Y | NA | N | Y |
| HYMANSON of York | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| INGWERSEN of Arundel | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| JAVNER of Chester | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| JOHANSEN of Monticello | R | 17% | N | N | N | Y | NA | N | Y |
| JORGENSEN of Portland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| KESCHL of Belgrade | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| KESSLER of South Portland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| KINNEY of Knox | R | 40% | N | X | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| KORNFIELD of Bangor | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| KRYZAK of Acton | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| LANDRY of Farmington | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| LOCKMAN of Bradley | R | 0% | N | N | N | N | NA | N | Y |
| LYFORD of Eddington | R | 40% | N | X | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| MADIGAN of Waterville | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| MAREAN of Hollis | I | 67% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| MARTIN of Eagle Lake | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| MARTIN of Sinclair | D | 60% | Y | X | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| MARTIN of Greene | R | 33% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| MASON of Lisbon | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| MASTRACCIO of Sanford | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| MATLACK of St. George | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| MAXMIN of Nobleboro | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| McCREA of Fort Fairfield | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| McCREIGHT of Harpswell | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| McDONALD of Stonington | D | 100% | X | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| McLEAN of Gorham | D | 100% | X | Y | Y | X | NA | Y | N |
| MELARAGNO of Auburn | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| MEYER of Eliot | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| MILLETT of Waterford | R | 25% | N | N | X | Y | NA | X | Y |
| MOONEN of Portland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| MORALES of South Portland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| Moriarty of Cumberland | D | 50% | NA | NA | NA | NA | N | N | |
| MORRIS of Turner | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| NADEAU of Winslow | D | 83% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| O’CONNELL of Brewer | D | 100% | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | N | |
| O’CONNOR of Berwick | R | 67% | Y | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| O’NEIL of Saco | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | X | N |
| ORDWAY of Standish | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| PAULHUS of Bath | D | 100% | X | Y | Y | Y | N | ||
| PEBWORTH of Blue Hill | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | X | NA | Y | N |
| PEOPLES of Westbrook | D | 100% | Y | X | Y | Y | NA | NA | NA |
| PERKINS of Oakland | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| PERRY of Calais | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | X | N |
| PERRY of Bangor | D | 80% | X | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | N |
| PICKETT of Dixfield | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| PIERCE of Falmouth | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| PLUECKER of Warren | I | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| PRESCOTT of Waterboro | R | 67% | Y | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| RECKITT of South Portland | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| REED of Carmel | R | 0% | N | N | N | N | NA | N | E |
| RILEY of Jay | D | 100% | Y | Y | X | Y | NA | Y | N |
| RISEMAN of Harrison | U | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| ROBERTS of South Berwick | D | 100% | X | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| RUDNICKI of Fairfield | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| RYKERSON of Kittery | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| SAMPSON of Alfred | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| SCHNECK of Bangor | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| SHARPE of Durham | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | X | N |
| SHEATS of Auburn | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| SKOLFIELD of Weld | R | 20% | N | N | X | Y | NA | N | Y |
| STANLEY of Medway | D | 50% | N | Y | N | Y | NA | N | N |
| STEARNS of Guilford | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| STETKIS of Canaan | R | 40% | N | N | Y | X | NA | Y | Y |
| STEWART of Presque Isle | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| STOVER of Boothbay | D | 100% | Y | Y | X | X | NA | Y | N |
| STROM of Pittsfield | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| SWALLOW of Houlton | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| SYLVESTER of Portland | D | 100% | Y | Y | X | Y | NA | Y | N |
| TALBOT ROSS of Portland | D | 100% | Y | Y | X | Y | NA | Y | N |
| TEPLER of Topsham | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| TERRY of Gorham | D | 100% | Y | Y | X | Y | NA | Y | N |
| THERIAULT of China | R | 40% | N | X | Y | N | NA | Y | Y |
| TIPPING of Orono | D | 100% | Y | X | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| TUCKER of Brunswick | D | 80% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | N | E |
| TUELL of East Machias | R | 50% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | Y |
| VEROW of Brewer | D | 100% | Y | Y | X | X | NA | NA | NA |
| WADSWORTH of Hiram | R | 25% | N | N | Y | X | NA | X | Y |
| WARREN of Hallowell | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| WHITE of Waterville | D | 83% | N | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | N |
| WHITE of Mars Hill | R | 33% | N | N | Y | Y | NA | N | Y |
| ZEIGLER of Montville | D | 100% | Y | Y | Y | Y | NA | Y | E |