Jobs and Income

New federal overtime rule will protect an extra 26,000 salaried Maine workers

At a glance: The federal department of labor is raising the threshold for low-paid salaried workers to be eligible for overtime pay, nearly doubling the number of […]

James Myall

Posted July 3, 2024

Tags Incomes, Job Quality, Jobs, Overtime, Wages

Taxes and Budget

Unfunded bills are unfinished work

The legislature has passed a supplemental budget, but its work for this year remains far from done. Both legislative chambers have approved dozens of bills and they […]

James Myall

Posted April 24, 2024

Tags Child Care, Direct Care Work, Education, Health Care, Higher Education, Job Quality, Minimum Wage, Overtime, Racial Equity, Wages

Taxes and Budget

What’s in the $430 million supplemental budget

On Monday, Governor Janet Mills signed into law a $430 million supplemental budget passed by the legislature that includes significant investments in pressing needs for Mainers, particularly […]

James Myall

Posted April 24, 2024

Tags Budget, Education, Housing, Medicare, Revenue, Seniors, SNAP, Wages

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Maine lawmakers have signed off on worker protections — now they must fund their implementation

Through 2023 and 2024, the Maine legislature passed seven bills to improve Mainers’ rights at work — but these bills won’t become law unless the Appropriations and […]

James Myall

Posted April 12, 2024

Tags Budget, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Wages

Taxes and Budget

It’s right to re-examine highway funding in Maine

At a glance: Highway fund revenue is projected to be $19 million more than what was budgeted last year Shifting $11 million of extra highway funds to […]

James Myall

Posted April 11, 2024

Tags Budget, Revenue

Education, Jobs and Income

Poor pay and strained working conditions cause staffing shortages in Maine schools

At a glance: Maine has a shortage of educators due to wages that are not competitive Maine educators make less on average than peers with similar levels […]

James Myall

Posted April 8, 2024

Tags Children, Economic Security, Education, Job Quality, Jobs, K-12 Education, Wages

Maine’s Economy

People seeking asylum and refuge benefit Maine’s economy — lawmakers need to support them

At a glance: People seeking asylum and refuge pay more in taxes than they receive in public assistance over the long term, providing overall benefits to employers […]

James Myall

Posted March 27, 2024

Tags Economy, Immigration, Racial Equity

Taxes and Budget

Legislature shouldn’t give up on fixing highway funding

As of 2023, the Maine legislature has chosen to divert just over $100 million annually on an ongoing basis from the state’s general fund by dedicating 40 […]

James Myall

Posted March 14, 2024

Tags Budget, Revenue, Sales Tax, Tax Fairness, Taxes

Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy

How public policy has and hasn’t increased equity for Black Mainers

Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the extent to which Maine has seen recent progress on reducing inequalities that impact Black Mainers. Data shows […]

James Myall

Posted February 27, 2024

Tags Economic Security, Employment, Immigration, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Poverty, Racial Equity, Unemployment, Wages

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Maine state employees still face significant pay gap

Last week, the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services released a report outlining the progress the administration has made on closing the pay gap between state […]

James Myall

Posted February 6, 2024

Tags Budget, Incomes, Job Quality, Unions, Wages

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New federal overtime rule will protect an extra 26,000 salaried Maine workers

Unfunded bills are unfinished work

What’s in the $430 million supplemental budget

Maine lawmakers have signed off on worker protections — now they must fund their implementation

It’s right to re-examine highway funding in Maine

Poor pay and strained working conditions cause staffing shortages in Maine schools

People seeking asylum and refuge benefit Maine’s economy — lawmakers need to support them

Legislature shouldn’t give up on fixing highway funding

How public policy has and hasn’t increased equity for Black Mainers

Maine state employees still face significant pay gap