Taxes and Budget

New “continuing services budget” provides stable foundation for future planning

Last Friday the appropriations committee approved an $11.5 billion “continuing services” budget to continue state operations at a more-or-less flat level for the next two years. While […]

James Myall

Posted March 20, 2025

Tags Budget, Caregiving, Child Care, Economic Security, Education, Health Care, Higher Education, Medicaid, Wages

Taxes and Budget

Maine Senate Republicans backtrack on budget deal, jeopardizing health care and forestry

Updated 3/13/2025 At a glance: Maine Senate Republicans agreed on a budget to help health care and forestry — the state has extra funds to cover these […]

James Myall

Posted March 12, 2025

Tags Budget, Economic Security, Economy, Jobs, Revenue

Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget

Tariffs — An Explainer

What are tariffs? Tariffs are taxes on imported goods that, when well-targeted and strategically planned, can be a powerful economic tool. They help counter unfair trade practices, […]

Karin Leuthy

Posted March 11, 2025

Tags Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Jobs, Taxes

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Maine shouldn't balance the budget on the backs of direct care workers

At a glance: Proposed budget cuts would lower direct care labor reimbursements, reducing pay and worsening workforce shortages Low wages for direct care professionals already impose significant […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted March 5, 2025

Tags Budget, Caregiving, Direct Care Work, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Maine must invest in child care, not cut it

At a glance: Proposed budget cuts to child care funding will reduce wages for child care workers, limit child care availability, and weaken Maine’s economy Child care […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted March 3, 2025

Tags Budget, Caregiving, Child Care, Children, Direct Care Work, Tax Fairness, Taxes

Taxes and Budget

8 things to know about federal funding in Maine

Federal government spending strengthens communities, improves quality of life, and boosts the overall economy. In Maine, it helps pay for roads, bridges, schools, public safety, and health […]

James Myall

Posted March 3, 2025

Tags Budget, Federal

Taxes and Budget

Golden’s Family Income Security Credit: strong fundamentals undermined by some problematic provisions

Congressman Jared Golden has shared a new idea to change the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and make it better for families. The fundamentals of his plan, called […]

James Myall

Posted February 28, 2025

Tags Budget, Child Care, Child Tax Credit, Federal, Incomes, Tax Fairness, Taxes

Health Care, Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget

Proposed Medicaid cuts put Maine families’ incomes at risk

At a glance: Proposed Medicaid cuts could affect over 400,000 Mainers, especially children, older adults, and families with low income, reducing access to essential health care and […]

Megan Michaud

Posted February 21, 2025

Tags Budget, Health Care, Incomes, Inequality, Medicaid, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes, TCJA

Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget

Canadian boycott could hurt Maine’s tourism economy

Relations between the United States and Canada have deteriorated rapidly in the wake of threats by President Trump ranging from imposing tariffs to outright annexation. In response […]

James Myall

Posted February 20, 2025

Tags Budget, Economy, Revenue

Taxes and Budget

Maine GOP proposes cuts to health care, housing, college aid, and paid leave

In a series of votes last Tuesday, Republicans in Maine’s House and Senate didn’t just block an urgent supplemental budget measure to ensure health care providers get […]

James Myall

Posted February 20, 2025

Tags Budget, Education, Higher Education, Medicaid, Paid Family and Medical Leave, Revenue

Blog

Here’s the latest research, analysis, and commentary from MECEP’s policy experts.

Filter by Category

Filter by Resource Type

Filter by Author

Filter by Tags

Filter by Feature Research

New “continuing services budget” provides stable foundation for future planning

Maine Senate Republicans backtrack on budget deal, jeopardizing health care and forestry

Tariffs — An Explainer

Maine shouldn't balance the budget on the backs of direct care workers

Maine must invest in child care, not cut it

8 things to know about federal funding in Maine

Golden’s Family Income Security Credit: strong fundamentals undermined by some problematic provisions

Proposed Medicaid cuts put Maine families’ incomes at risk

Canadian boycott could hurt Maine’s tourism economy

Maine GOP proposes cuts to health care, housing, college aid, and paid leave