Taxes and Budget The best of the budget for Maine’s economy The 130th legislative session began with a surplus of more than $800 million which was revised up to $1.2 billion in March. The bipartisan budget approved last […] Sarah Austin Posted April 28, 2022 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Economy, Education, Housing, Infrastructure, K-12 Education, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Restoring fairness for the Wabanaki requires Congressional action, too The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Penobscot Nation, and Mi’kmaq Nation are recognized under federal law. But unlike the 570 other federally recognized tribes, these […] Garrett Martin Posted April 20, 2022 Tags Children, Economic Security, Federal, Inequality
Taxes and Budget Watchdog agency again finds no evidence to support business tax breaks Once again, an investigation by the Maine State Legislature’s watchdog agency has found a lack of oversight and accountability for a business tax break. The Office of […] MECEP Posted April 15, 2022 Tags Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Republican lawmakers want to give millionaires $850 Republican legislators are proposing to remove income caps from the governor’s planned $850 COVID Pandemic Relief Payments. This would make the richest 20 percent of Maine households, […] Sarah Austin Posted April 7, 2022 Tags Budget, Coronavirus, Revenue, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Economic relief should target people who need it most Governor Janet Mills has proposed using the majority of Maine’s historic $1.2 billion budget surplus to pay for economic relief checks to 800,000 Mainers. While the rising […] James Myall Posted March 29, 2022 Tags Budget, Children, Economic Security, Food Insecurity, Housing, Inequality
Taxes and Budget How to create more bang for Maine’s budget bucks This year’s historic budget surplus offers a rare opportunity to invest in Mainers in ways that will have a lasting and tangible impact. While many of the […] MECEP Posted March 23, 2022 Tags Budget, Children, Economy, Education, Health Care, Higher Education, Immigration, Inequality, Racial Equity
Taxes and Budget American Rescue Plan funds create local opportunities to advance equitable pandemic recovery Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in March of 2021, sending $130 billion dollars to county and municipal governments across the country to support recovery […] Maura Pillsbury Posted March 15, 2022 Tags Budget, Infrastructure, Local
Taxes and Budget Making the most of Maine's historic surplus When a state’s budget fully invests in its people and communities, everyone benefits. Today, Maine has a surplus and policymakers have an opportunity to improve people’s lives, […] Sarah Austin Posted March 1, 2022 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Education, Health Care, Job Quality, Paid Sick Days
Maine’s Economy Equal footing for Maine tribes At its core, tribal sovereignty is about fairness. LD 1626, “An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement […] James Myall Posted February 25, 2022 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Inequality, Racial Equity, Tax Fairness
Jobs and Income Surveys show strong support and widespread need for paid family and medical leave Maine’s Commission to Develop a Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program recently solicited public feedback through two separate surveys of employees and employers on the need […] James Myall Posted February 22, 2022 Tags Children, Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs, Paid Sick Days