GOP Pushes Through Trump’s Megabill — High Stakes in Blue States Like Maine
Republicans are closing in on final passage of President Donald Trump’s sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” with most GOP holdouts falling in line and a July 4 victory nearly guaranteed. But in Democratic-leaning states like Maine, the bill could come with major political and policy consequences.
Only a third of Mainers support the bill, and its Medicaid provisions are especially controversial. The legislation is expected to cut $1 trillion from Medicaid over a decade, leading to two serious effects in Maine:
- 31,000 Mainers may lose coverage due to new 20-hour work requirements for childless adults deemed able to work.
- $417 million in federal funding could be lost between 2031–2034 due to reduced federal matching rates for states like Maine that use their own funds to cover vulnerable populations.
Rural hospitals are bracing for major budget shortfalls, with MaineHealth projecting an annual loss of up to $60 million. Despite a proposed $50 billion rural hospital fund, providers don’t believe it will offset the damage.
The bill also ends energy tax credits and adds work requirements to food stamps — issues likely to ripple across households and local economies.
Mills Blocks Democrat Bills…but 2026 Could Bring a Harder Left Turn
Governor Janet Mills is quietly delaying several progressive bills passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature, including those targeting gun rights and expanding tribal control over online gambling. While she can’t veto them yet due to the Legislature’s adjournment, these are clear signals of opposition—and a reminder that Mills remains a moderate guardrail against her party’s far-left wing.
But that guardrail won’t last forever. Mills is term-limited and stepping down in 2026, and the field of potential replacements includes candidates even further left, like Troy Jackson and Hannah Pingree—both with closer ties to activist groups pushing radical policies.
As Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) put it:
“Did you know that Gov. Mills is the most moderate Democrat in Augusta? It’s true. So what does that say about the Democrat majority elected to the Legislature?”
Collins Pushes Back on Trump Cuts to Rural Programs
U.S. Senator Susan Collins is once again at the center of a high-stakes budget battle—this time over President Trump’s $9.4 billion spending cut package. As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins is raising red flags over proposed cuts to PEPFAR (the global HIV/AIDS program) and funding for local public broadcasting, especially in rural states like Maine.
While Collins has criticized NPR’s partisan bias, she’s defending small-town affiliates like Maine Public that rely on federal support and provide essential services in remote areas. She’s not alone—other rural-state Republicans are also pushing back.
If Congress doesn’t pass the bill by July 18, the funds must be spent, putting pressure on GOP leadership to strike a balance between fiscal responsibility and rural priorities.
“NPR should be providing the kind of neutral coverage that Maine Public, for the most part, does provide,” Collins said.