Maine Unitarian Universalist Social Advocacy Network
- Description
- Meetings
Description
About Maine Unitarian Universalist Social Advocacy Network
For updates on meetings and positions and other announcements, also click on Meetings.
MUUSAN Description
The Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network (MUUSAN) is a statewide advocacy and public policy network anchored in our Unitarian Universalist faith and animated by its principles. This legislative ministry links Maine's 25 Unitarian Universalist congregations to promote just, humane laws and policies in keeping with our UUA Seven Principles. We welcome as partners and collaborators all those who share our values.
In a denomination that is characterized by social activism, we are called to bring our values to bear in the public arena: in the State Legislature, the news media, the development of policy, and the pursuit of justice.
MUUSAN currently has four focus groups:
RACIAL, NATIVE, AND IMMIGRANT JUSTICE, working towards:
Enactment of laws with the best and most long-lasting potential effect on racial, native and immigrant populations in Maine, though in many cases the beneficial effects of such laws would be felt by many other Maine residents as well. These areas include economic security and access to benefits, criminal justice and reduction of harm resulting from mass incarceration, and tribal sovereignty.
Collaborative relationships with statewide justice-oriented organizations and with interest groups within the populations most impacted by injustice. Each helps to educate us and to magnify our impact by directing us toward legislative and public policy areas where our voice as a faith-based organization can make the greatest difference.
DEMOCRACY IN ACTION, working to support:
Campaign Finance Reform: MUUSAN supports a Constitutional Amendment to permit effective campaign funding laws and a publicly funded election process. MUUSAN is an endorsing partner with Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, a nonpartisan organization committed to strengthening Maine’s campaign finance laws, including especially public financing that allows moderate income persons to run for office.
• Voter education and turnout: MUUSAN empowers congregations and members to participate in public discourse. We provide educational resources on how to be active in the democratic process and enable and encourage congregations to interact with their local, state, and federal legislators.
• Ensuring fair election practices: MUUSAN monitors election laws and supports full restoration of the Voting Rights Act.
• Ranked Choice Voting
• Civil Discourse
CLIMATE CHANGE: Areas of focus:
• Environmental Protection – we oppose the piping of tar sands oil through Maine, oppose weak rules for open pit mining, and support bills that would protect Maine lakes.
• Energy Efficiency – we support federal legislation that sets emission standards for both new and existing power plants, and back state bills to reduce the cap on carbon pollution for power plants under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and encourage home weatherization and other efficiency methods.
• Sustainable Energy Sources – we support legislation that encourages the use of solar energy in Maine.
HEALTH CARE: Area s of focus:
Support the passing of bills that promote healthy behaviors and systemic change —social, economic, and environmental —to improve the health of the entire population. These
include Universal HealthCare and Reproductive Health. The goal is to be sure that all Mainers have access to affordable care as well as preventive solutions.
• Public health efforts include: educating the public about healthier choices, preventing disease outbreaks and the spread of infectious diseases, treatment for substance abuse disorders, ensuring safe food and water in communities, preventing injury and death from gun violence, and ensuring all Mainers have access to dental care.
For more information on MUUSAN, please see MUUSAN.org or email
MUUSAN@augustauu.org.
9/1/2022