Wabanaki Windows 6/19/18

Producer/Host: Donna Loring
Engineer: Amy Browne

Does the US Constitution protect Native Americans?

Key Discussion Points:
How does the normal US Citizen view the Constitution?
Does the Bill Of Rights Cover Native People?
Why do we need the Indian Civil Rights Act?

Guests:
Eric Mehnert, Chief Judge of the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court
James Campbell, host of Notes from the Electric Cottage, WERU,
Dr. Darren Ranco, Chair of Native Programs and Director of the Wabanaki Center University of Maine Orono.
Law professor Robert J. Miller Sandra Day O’connor College of Law Arizona State and Adjunct faculty at Lewis and Clark School of Law Portland Oregon.

Suggested Resources:
www.encyclopedia.com/politics/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/american-indians-and-constitution
www.flashpointmag.com/amindus.htm

Mainely Phenology 6/16/18

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn

Turtle Eggs

Having spent the warmer days of last month sunning themselves on logs and stumps, turtles can now be seen ponderously scooting their way across lawns, roads, and beaches in search of a suitable place to lay their eggs. Painted turtles are just one of the turtle species we have in Maine that are currently laying eggs.

Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at mainelyphenology.wordpress.com

Democracy Forum 6/15/18

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine  
Engineer: Amy Browne

State Preemption: From Guns to Garbage, Who’s Got the Power?

Key Discussion Points:
a) how federalism protects and constrains states’ rights and?
b) how states can both protect and commandeer local control.
c) from guns and garbage to water quality and pesticides, how much control do states and towns have to protect their assets or advance their values

Guests:
Garrett Crobin, a Legislative Advocate for the Maine Municipal Association https://www.memun.org/Legislative-Advocacy/Contact-Information
Lauren E. Phillips, newly-minted JD from Columbia Law and authored an important article on state pre-emption for the Columbia Law Review.

To learn more about this topic:
–Impeding Innovation: State Preemption of Progressive Local Regulations, Lauren Phillips in the Columbia Law Review, Volume 117, No. 8, December 2017.
–Blue Cities Want to Make Their Own Rules. Red States Won’t Let Them. more from TheUpshot at the New York Times, July, 2017.
–From Fracking Bans To Paid Sick Leave: How States Are Overruling Local Laws, PR Watch’s Lisa Graves on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, April, 2016.
–Soda And Fast Food Lobbyists Push State Preemption Laws To Prevent Local Regulation, Robb Waters in Forbes Magazine, June, 21, 2017.
–Municipal Approaches in Maine to Reduce Single-use Consumer Products, Travis Wagner in the Maine Policy Review, 2016.
–Preemption Watch Newsletter,
–Preemption Doctrine, by Ellerbe P. Cole, Maine Municipal Association in Maine Townsman,” Legal Notes,” June 1991.

The all-volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes:
Starr Gilmartin
Maggie Harling
Linda Hoskins
Sheil Kirby
Ann Luther
Maryann Ogonowski
Pam Person
Leah Taylor
Linda Washburn

FMI re League of Women Voters of Maine: www.lwvme.org