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The League Just Made History - Affordable College!

Opportunity Maine poster on the wall at the League office

The League just made history in Maine.

Remember a couple months ago, when we told you that the League in Maine was working to get an initiative on the November ballot to get rid of debt for college students?

This week the state legislature voted overwhelmingly to pass the "Opportunity Maine" initiative as a bill. Now, students who stay in Maine after they graduate will be able to receive up to $32,000 towards their college debt.

Do you realize what this means? Because of the League and its allies, more young people will now have access to an affordable college education. That's real change.... for young people, by young people.

How did this go down?!?

In 2005 when the League worked on a campaign to defeat an anti-gay ballot initiative, this kid Andrew Bossie worked alongside the League. After seeing the power of defeating a wack initiative, he thought, why not use this process to create something positive? As the first person in his family to graduate from college, Andrew had seen numerous friends skip college or drop out because it was too expensive. So he came to the League with an idea...

It shouldn't cost so damn much to go to college.

The League leapt into action, helping create a ballot initiative that gets rid of up to $32,000 of student debt for Maine graduates who stay in state after graduation. It's paid for with tax credits and will actually bring millions of dollars into the state. It was a bold and groundbreaking plan.

So the League hit the pavement with a grassroots effort that gathered 73,000 signatures to put the initiative on the ballot. It was an amazing effort. Then this week, the legislature passed the measure as a bill with support from all over the political map. It's only the sixth time in Maine's history that lawmakers have enacted a citizens initiative.

Wow.

From a great idea straight out of the lives of young people, to a campaign run by young people, to a new law that will open college up to more young people. THAT's exactly what the League is all about. THAT's why this matters. THAT's what we're doing working together.

That's what the @$%# we're talkin bout. :)

Get down with this movement.