Brewer shares insights about legislative bans with Portland Press Herald
University of Maine political scientist Mark Brewer told the Portland Press Herald and Morning Sentinel/Kennebec Journal that having Democratic control of the House, Senate and Blaine House was likely the biggest driver the “year of the ban.” This session, lawmakers outlawed so-called conversion therapy to change sexual orientation, as well as schools from using Native American mascots, single-use plastic grocery bags, motorists from using handheld cellphones, schoolchildren from vaping and minors from using tanning beds. “I don’t know if that’s the whole story, though,” said Brewer. “If you look at a variety of issues, policymaking can be slow. It sometimes takes multiple times for things to get through.” Brewer said thoughts about so-called conversion therapy likely have shifted to where legislative support matches public support. But, he said, from a Republican perspective the bans might give the impression that the government is telling people how to live their lives. “I think for some people these are going to seem like perfect examples of government overreach,” he said.