Each Friday, we’ll bring you updates on the latest civil liberties news from Maine and the nation.
Marriage and Taxes:
According to this press release from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Department and the IRS have ruled that, “same-sex couples, legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes.” If a couple legally marries in one state and moves to another state, the IRS will recognize them as married for federal tax purposes. Read more here.
Marijuana:
Yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said that the Department of Justice would not interfere with states that legalize and regulate marijuana. In doing so, the Attorney General provided critical support for sensible drug law reform. This announcement comes just weeks after Holder called for a reform to mandatory minimums laws. Announcements like these hearten us as we continue our work on the complex problem of over-incarceration. You can read more here.
March On Washington:
This week marked the fiftieth anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Throughout the week, ACLU of Maine staffers have reflected on the work done since the March on Washington and the work left to do. Rachel put together a slideshow tribute of photos and quotes from the March. I wrote last week about the ways in which racial injustice has changed and persisted in fifty years. Shenna reflected on the dangers of complacency. Grainne reviewed the anniversary march on Washington, highlighting Obama’s comment on the need to ensure that, “scales of justice work equally for all, and the criminal justice system is not simply a pipeline from underfunded schools to overcrowded jails.”
