Progressives call for Sen. Collins to reject tax cuts

PORTSMOUTH — Seacoast residents marched in the snow from Market Square over the Memorial Bridge and into Kittery, Maine, on Saturday, to convince Maine Sen. Susan Collins to vote no on the proposed Republican tax reform bill when it comes up in a few weeks.

Barney Frank, a former Democratic congressman from Massachusetts, spoke to the several hundred protestors gathered in John Paul Jones Park in Kittery. Frank said Sen. Collins will be a pivotal vote and urged the people who braved the weather to begin a letter-writing campaign to let Collins know they do not want her to support the reconciliation bill. Collins voted in favor of the Senate plan, which narrowly passed 51-49.

“This is a time of absolute importance,” Frank said. “This is an important decision and it is simply unfair to all of you.”

If the bill passes, Frank said it will increase the federal deficit and will mean deep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other programs vital to citizens.

“Once they cut taxes, they will go after the programs important to us,” he said. “They will increase the deficit deliberately and then tell you their hands are tied, that there is no money for programs. They will tie themselves in knots and then say they wish they could help but there’s no money.”

Collins has indicated she may change her vote on the GOP tax overhaul if her amendments are not included in the final version that emerges from conference committee.

Collins voted for the sweeping tax overhaul after her amendments on property tax and medical expense deductions were included. She also says she secured a promise from House and Senate leaders to remove the threat of a 4 percent cut to Medicare.

"I'm going to look at what comes out of the conference committee meeting to reconcile the differences between the Senate and House Bill. So I won't make a final decision until I see what that package is," she told WABI-TV from Washington, D.C.

Kittery resident Kathleen Marra, who spearheaded the two-state protest of dissatisfied Democrats, led the sign wielding group in chants of “Hey Ho. Senator Collins, just say no,” as they marched from Market Square to the John Paul Jones Park.

“You work for us, not for billionaires,” “Not one penny for the rich” and “Health care, not wealthcare” were among the signs carried by the protestors.

Maine State Reps. Deane Rykerson of Kittery, and Mark Lawrence of Eliot, both Democrats, were on hand to also urge the letter writing camping.

“We are talking about our quality of life,” Rykerson said. “Our homes, education, health care and the health of the world we want to leave to our children are all under attack here. Write letters, write emails. Stick with this until we win.”

“There are a lot of things you could be doing on this snowy day,” Lawrence said. “You are here because this is important.”

Some people came from Massachusetts, like Dennis Desmond, who said he brought two carloads of students from UMass for the event.

“This bill is taking away from all of us,” Desmond said. “They are taking from us to give to the rich and unless we stop it now, there’s no end to what this administration will do.”

York resident Nancy Stolbert said she opposes the tax bill and hopes they can convince Sen. Collins to vote no on the final bill.

“Flood Sen. Collins with letters,” Frank said. “Tell her you voted for her, but will not vote for her again if she votes yes. Tell her you know this bill will penalize Maine because it will lay the groundwork for cuts. This is a key vote and if you all band together, and get your friends to do this, she will listen. Don’t call because the people who read the letters are higher up on the food chain than those who answer the phones.”

The march, called “This is Wrong,” was organized by Democratic committees in southern Maine, the Resistance Seacoast and several other progressive organizations.

 – The Associated Press contributed to this report.