Maine State News

Vol. 1, No. 5--December 4, 2004

Maine Progressive Caucus holds Founding Convention in Augusta

A year ago, they supported different Democratic presidential candidates.

But this week a number of Maine political activists--many veterans of the Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich campaigns--came together to form the Maine Progressive Caucus, an organization through which they hope to promote progressive causes and candidates, as well as return the Democratic Party to its populist roots.

The caucus' founding convention was held Sunday at the University of Maine in Augusta, drawing progressives from York to Washington Counties.

In a resolution session following the passage of bylaws and election of officers, the group demanded the United States "immediately turn over the security of Iraq to the United Nations; and immediately withdraw all U.S. forces from Iraq."

It also called on the U.S. government "to defer to the United Nations to effect a just, two-state settlement for Israel and Palestine."

The Caucus urged the Maine Congressional delegation to oppose a Central American Free Trade Agreement, and insisted that all persons in the United States be entitled to equal protection under the law, including family and marriage law, as provided by the fourteenth amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The 14th amendment reads, in part, "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Among the activists gathered were elected public officials, political party office holders and members of state, county and municipal Democratic committees, as well as some Green Party members who had become involved in the Dean and Kucinich campaigns. Under the bylaws as approved Sunday, membership in the caucus itself is open to any Maine citizen regardless of party affiliation if they support the values of the Caucus, but officers and board members will be members of the Democratic Party. The sentiment among those in favor of that policy was that since one objective of the caucus was to work within the Democratic Party to effect change in party structure and operation, it was important that leadership of the caucus have standing in the party.

Officers elected were: Scott Ruffner, Bangor, president; Christopher Miller, Gray, vice-president; David Bright, Dixmont, secretary; and Seth Berner, Portland, Treasurer.

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