Taxes and Budget Letter: Invest in Maine people and communities Mainers cannot work if they are not healthy and lack access to stable, affordable housing or child care. They cannot support local businesses if they have no […] Bangor Daily News Posted May 28, 2024 Tags Budget, Revenue, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Lawmakers can do better for Maine workers, families and communities Elected leaders in Maine strengthen our communities and address economic challenges through legislation. The major challenge facing Maine’s economy is the state’s plateauing workforce and to solve it we […] Bangor Daily News Posted May 22, 2024 Tags Budget, Direct Care Work, Economic Security, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, K-12 Education, Minimum Wage, Racial Equity, Unemployment, Wages
Taxes and Budget Janet Mills vetoes a Republican’s proposal to raise income tax rates on wealthier Mainers Garrett Martin, president and CEO of the liberal Maine Center for Economic Policy, said Mills “missed a valuable opportunity to add fairness to Maine’s tax code.” Martin […] Bangor Daily News Posted April 26, 2024 Tags Income Tax, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Rent relief can help ease Maine’s housing crisis now Maine should have enough safe, affordable homes for all, including renters. But for many Mainers, a lack of affordable homes and sky-high rents are pulling their bank accounts […] Bangor Daily News Posted March 11, 2024 Tags Economic Security, Housing
Jobs and Income State workers union accuses Mills administration of violating labor law But another analysis, this one from the Maine Center for Economic Policy, contests that conclusion, noting that growth in private sector wages have continued to outpace growth for […] Bangor Daily News Posted February 28, 2024 Tags Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget State workers still struggle even as Mills administration touts closed pay gap Starting in July, about half of the workforce is eligible to advance to a new higher “step” on the state’s classification pay scale, potentially qualifying them for another 4 […] Bangor Daily News Posted February 9, 2024 Tags Budget, Incomes, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget How 20 Maine mothers are using a $1,000 guaranteed monthly income The idea has gone no further in Augusta and is unlikely to anytime soon. The liberal Maine Center for Economic Policy said in a November report that a state […] Bangor Daily News Posted February 5, 2024 Tags Budget, Guaranteed Income, Incomes
Jobs and Income Maine farmworkers deserve equal rights A study by the Maine Center for Economic Policy found that “a quarter of farmworkers in the state — many of whom are migrant laborers — live in poverty and […] Bangor Daily News Posted December 25, 2023 Tags Minimum Wage, Poverty, Wages
Taxes and Budget Portland Sea Dogs could lose MLB affiliation without $10M in upgrades The new owner could feature prominently in any debate over upgrades. Both the conservative Maine Policy Institute and the liberal Maine Center for Economic Policy have added a proposed bill aiming […] Bangor Daily News Posted December 13, 2023 Tags Budget, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Targeted investments and targeted tax relief should be on table with yet another surplus “The state can use this surplus to remove barriers that currently hold people back from fully participating in and benefiting from our economy,” said Sarah Austin, director […] Bangor Daily News Posted December 1, 2023 Tags Budget, Child Care, Economic Security, Economy, Housing