The Abortion Bill, LD 1619 An Act to Improve Maine's Reproductive Privacy Laws, appeared on the House Calendar on April 12, 2023. The Bill was cosponsored by 76 Representatives and 20 Senators. Enough Cosponsors in both the House and Senate to pass the Bill. The following day the Bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee.

On May 1, 2023, the Public Hearing for LD 1619 An Act to Improve Maine's Reproductive Privacy Laws was held at the Capitol in Augusta. Individuals were in line at 7 AM to sign up to testify at the public hearing which was to start at 10 AM. They were in lines down the stairways and filled overflow rooms in the buildings. Prayers and songs were sung by the people waiting in line.

Over eleven hundred citizens testified in opposition to the bill while only seventy two testified in favor of the bill. Ninety-four percent of those testifying opposed this legislation. Initially each testimony was limited to three minutes, then reduced to two minutes and later to one minute. The testimony continued throughout the day and night ending at 7:30 AM the next morning.

There was a rally on the capitol grounds in opposition to the bill. After the public hearing those in opposition to the bill were in the halls every day the legislature was in session. All the testimony was printed and a binder with copies was given to each democrat legislator. Sadly I watched as one was thrown in the trash.

As best I know there has never been, throughout the history of Maine, such an effort on the part of the citizens to persuade the legislators to oppose a bill. People came from all over Maine. They took time away from jobs and families just to be heard, if only for one minute. There were also those there that did not testify. There were people who could not be there but watched on Zoom and those who had watched the public hearing on the Judiciary Committee Videos for May 1, 2023. or will now watch. There were hundreds of emails sent in opposition to the bill.

I can't help but admire the people of Maine who responded so strongly in opposition to this bill. Yet there was no rioting, all was peaceful; although some may have been upset when hearing religious songs and prayers in the Capitol building.

It became obvious that the vote in the House would only occur when there were enough votes to pass it. When the vote was finally taken 72 votes were needed to pass. There were 73 votes in favor of the bill.

Were the citizens of Maine heard? Did your representative listen to you or even read your emails? Where do you stand? Are you appalled? The effort on the part of our citizenry was heroic. All they asked for was: "...Liberty and Justice for All, Born and Unborn.