Health Care The results are in: Accepting federal healthcare funds strengthens state finances, creates jobs, and grows state economies “A recent report prepared by Manatt Health Solutions for the Maine Health Access Foundation, projected that accepting federal healthcare funds now would yield $26.7 million in net savings […] Christy Daggett Posted April 30, 2015 Tags Affordable Care Act, Federal, Health Care, Medicaid
Health Care, Jobs and Income Governor’s Credit Ratings Claims Ignore Maine’s Precarious Financial Position “The governor may tout his health care policies as good for the state . . . But he is wrong. And Maine’s “AA” credit rating from Fitch, […] Christy Daggett Posted April 28, 2015 Tags Health Care, Jobs
Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget What’s wrong with the governor’s tax proposal, in one chart There are two fundamental problems with the governor’s tax reform plan. First, it doesn’t adequately target tax cuts to low- and moderate-income Mainers. Second, it would force […] Marpheen Chann-Berry Posted April 16, 2015 Tags Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget #BetterDeal4ME is a big winner in Maine’s major newspapers When the Democratic leaders in the legislature announced their Better Deal for Maine (#BetterDeal4ME) plan on April 9, the Bangor Daily News was bullish on the proposal: […] Mark Sullivan Posted April 14, 2015 Tags Economy, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Education Education committee fails Maine college students Maine’s neediest college students will get no relief from the crushing costs of a college education. In fact, this week the legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Education […] Jody Harris Posted April 10, 2015 Tags Education, Higher Education, Student Debt
Health Care The true tale of a health policy maverick Ohio Governor John Kasich isn’t afraid of controversy, and he’s been taking his show on the road as of late. In Maine recently, he promoted a constitutional […] Christy Daggett Posted April 7, 2015 Tags Economy, Health Care, Medicaid
Taxes and Budget Maine legislators must reject the Governor’s call for a Constitutional Convention With today’s visit from Governor Kasich of Ohio, Governor LePage appears to be buying into a radical and reckless idea to call a Constitutional Convention under Article […] Marpheen Chann-Berry Posted March 26, 2015 Tags Budget
Taxes and Budget Low-income Maine residents would benefit from Governor LePage’s proposed sales tax fairness credit Buried in Governor LePage’s tax reform proposal is a good provision that would create new refundable income tax credit for low-income Maine residents. This credit is meant […] Marpheen Chann-Berry Posted March 25, 2015 Tags Income Tax, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Jobs and Income Labor Department’s minimum wage testimony misses the mark Instead of informing yesterday’s public hearing on a raft of bills that would raise Maine’s minimum wage, the Maine Department of Labor chose to present a slew […] Marpheen Chann-Berry Posted March 24, 2015 Tags Minimum Wage, Wages
Education A paperwork obstacle is denying Maine kids healthy, nutritious school meals We all know that being hungry can make us irritable, tired, and addled. We only have to watch the recent Snickers™ television commercials to appreciate we are […] Jody Harris Posted March 19, 2015 Tags Children, Education, Food Insecurity