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In The News

MCLU Praises Landmark PUC Ruling on Phone Privacy
Today, the MCLU praised the Maine Public Utilities Commission decision to require FairPoint Communications to take specific measures to safeguard customer privacy. The PUC’s actions came in response to a request from James D. Cowie and MCLU Board President Chris Branson that FairPoint, the company that took over Verizon’s Maine phone business in a deal that closed March 31, establish privacy policies to protect the consumer.

MCLU Celebrates 40th Anniversary
The Maine Civil Liberties Union will celebrate its fortieth anniversary at a dinner on May 8 in Freeport. The year of its founding, 1968, was one of the most traumatic of the post-World War II era, with the murders of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy, a growing youth rebellion and street-level protest against the Vietnam War. The issues that drove that turbulent year also spawned the MCLU, which had its first official meeting in February, 1968. Maine was one of only three states that did not have an ACLU affiliate at that time.

MCLU Disappointed in Legal Status Compromise -
Applauds Legislature’s Resounding Rejection of REAL ID
The Maine Civil Liberties Union today expressed disappointment in the enactment of LD 2309. The final bill requires the Secretary of State to enact regulations requiring driver’s license applicants to demonstrate a “legal presence” in order to obtain a license.

-Read Senator Damon's Testimony Opposing LD2309

See House Roll Call
(Yeas were in favor of defeating LD 2309)

See Senate Roll Call
(Yeas were in favor of defeating LD 2309)

Civil Rights Leaders Speak Out On Immigration At Augusta Press Conference
Members of the Maine Immigrants Rights Coalition gather in Augusta this morning to speak out against a proposal that would require Mainers to prove legal status in order to obtain a Maine driver license. Coalition members are holding a press conference at 11 am at the Welcome Center of the State House in Augusta.

Passport Security Concerns Raise New Questions About DHS Demands
The Maine Civil Liberties Union expressed concern over recent revelations calling into question the security of the United States passport. Initially reported by the Washington Times on March 26th, the manufacture of US passports has been outsourced to companies in Thailand and Europe. Among the revelations – e-passport chip technology has been stolen by China. The story, which has already sparked national controversy, suggests that the Maine legislature should be wary of new Department of Homeland Security requirements for the Maine driver license program.

MCLU Seeks Public Records on REAL ID Waiver
Today, the Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation filed a public records request with the Office of Governor John E. Baldacci for records relating to the debate over REAL ID. After more than a week of back and forth between the Governor’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the two parties announced yesterday that Maine was granted a waiver in exchange for promises by the Governor to propose changes to Maine driver license law. Just last year, Governor Baldacci signed into law a statute prohibiting Maine’s participation Real ID.

DHS/Baldacci Deal Threatens Mainers' Privacy
Today, the US Department of Homeland Security issued a waiver of its REAL ID implementation deadline to Maine, despite the fact that REAL ID implementation is still against the law in Maine. The waiver was granted in response to promises by Governor John Baldacci to propose legislation tightening the standards for Maine driver licenses and adopting new surveillance practices for applicants. DHS has now granted waivers to all fifty states despite the fact no state will be REAL ID compliant by May 11 and seven states have passed legislation prohibiting the implementation of REAL ID.

MCLU Blasts DHS Blackmail of Maine; DHS Singles Out Maine with Special Demands It Makes of No Other State
Today the Department of Homeland Security issued a list of demands to the state of Maine that exceed those placed on any other state in the country. DHS granted waivers to every state in the country including Montana and South Carolina, which did not request waivers, as well as all sixteen other states who have passed resolutions or legislation in opposition to REAL ID. The demands include a establishment of a costly facial recognition surveillance system that government studies show doesn’t work, proof of legal status or a scarlet-letter license scheme, and participation in the SAVE system, which only fourteen states in the country are currently doing according to the DHS website.

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