Taxes and Budget Dems looking to add housing, behavioral health funding to budget proposal Some analysts say that while the direct checks will likely prove popular in an election year, the effects will be short lived. “While $500 can mean a […] Beacon Posted February 18, 2022 Tags Budget, Health Care, Housing
Jobs and Income LePage admits Medicaid expansion ‘good for Maine,’ but still wants cuts to program James Myall, a policy analyst with Maine Center for Economic Policy, estimates that roughly 86,000 Mainers currently enrolled in MaineCare would be subject to the requirement if […] Beacon Posted February 17, 2022 Tags Health Care, Job Quality, Medicaid
Maine’s Economy Maine businesses and residents feel inflation’s bite Inflation is an economywide problem, but much of the harm will fall on those already struggling to make ends meet, said Arthur Phillips, economic policy analyst at […] Portland Press Herald Posted February 14, 2022 Tags Coronavirus, Economic Security, Inequality
Taxes and Budget Mills touts one-time payment in address, glosses over housing, overdose, climate crises Some progressive groups criticized the proposal for not prioritizing those Mainers most in need at a time when Maine has seen a dramatic increase in wealth among the state’s […] Beacon Posted February 11, 2022 Tags Budget
Taxes and Budget WATCH: Mills touts direct payments, 2 free years of community college in State of the State address “For frontline retail workers struggling to make their next rent payment, young families unable to keep their jobs due to constant daycare and school interruptions, and older […] Maine Public Posted February 10, 2022 Tags Budget
Jobs and Income Mills administration cracking down on employer wage and hour violations Although recently bolstered, the team of inspectors remains smaller than it was 50 years ago, which means relying on worker complaints, said James Myall, a policy analyst […] Portland Press Herald Posted February 6, 2022 Tags Job Quality, Jobs
Taxes and Budget Sen. King joins Democratic legislators in call for tax fairness at state and federal level Fecteau and Terry spoke about the tax landscape in Maine and the importance of creating a fairer system in the state. During the panel discussion, Sarah Austin, […] Beacon Posted February 2, 2022 Tags Budget, Federal, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Jobs and Income Lawmaker seeks to protect workers who take paid time off from retaliation James Myall, a policy analyst with the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP), told Beacon in a recent interview that workers’ fear of using leave was well-documented at the […] Beacon Posted January 31, 2022 Tags Job Quality, Jobs, Paid Sick Days
Jobs and Income Bill would make more than 30,000 salaried workers in Maine eligible for overtime Maine is among a handful of states that calculate their salary thresholds above the federal standard of $35,680. Raising overtime standards would group Maine with eight states […] Portland Press Herald Posted January 28, 2022 Tags Job Quality, Jobs
Taxes and Budget How corporations made inflation worse and why Build Back Better could help Fortunately, the rising costs of energy, cars and a host of other goods show signs of easing in the year ahead. The price of gas peaked in November at […] Bangor Daily News Posted January 28, 2022 Tags Budget, Coronavirus, Economic Security, Economy, Federal