Jobs and Income As unemployment benefits expire, activists use light show to plead with Collins A recent analysis by the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) found that even with the additional $600 per week, “Mainers are facing hardships that would be made […] Beacon Posted July 31, 2020 Tags Coronavirus, Federal, Susan Collins, Unemployment
Maine’s Economy Race equity commission calls on Mills to launch Truth and Reconciliation process Maine’s new Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations sent a letter to Governor Janet Mills on Thursday outlining immediate steps the administration should […] Beacon Posted June 18, 2020 Tags Inequality, Racial Equity
Jobs and Income As Maine reopens, 89,000 workers still lack paid sick leave The big business carve-out exempts many workers in Maine who work for large retail chains. Among those workers who did not have leave protections, 31,000 are ineligible […] Beacon Posted May 18, 2020 Tags Coronavirus, Job Quality, Jobs, Paid Sick Days
Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Democrats weigh repeal of tax breaks for wealthy as downturn threatens state services Maine’s state budget is facing an estimated 30-percent revenue decline in the next fiscal year from the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maine Center for […] Beacon Posted May 11, 2020 Tags Budget, Economy, Tax Breaks, Taxes
Maine’s Economy Maine’s economic recovery panel includes 20 business leaders, one worker representative The group is chaired by Josh Broder, CEO of Tilson, a Portland IT firm, and Laurie Lachance, president of Thomas College and a former state economist. Members […] Beacon Posted May 9, 2020 Tags Economy, Recession
Maine’s Economy Maine DOL: Workers in re-opened industries could lose unemployment if they don’t return to work According to recent calculations made by the Maine Center for Economic Policy, more than 108,520 Mainers have filed for unemployment over five weeks, putting the state unemployment […] Beacon Posted April 30, 2020 Tags Coronavirus, Economy, Federal
Maine’s Economy Beacon podcast: Maine’s pandemic recession will be fastest, deepest in modern history Sarah Austin of the Maine Center for Economic Policy joins the podcast this week to discuss her new report on the economic ramifications of the pandemic on Maine and […] Beacon Posted April 3, 2020 Tags Coronavirus, Economy, Recession
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy Focus on Collins as Senate makes paid sick days a sticking point in coronavirus response On Saturday, the U.S. House approved an emergency package providing free testing for the COVID-19 virus, enhanced unemployment benefits, and two weeks of paid sick days for just some […] Beacon Posted March 17, 2020 Tags Coronavirus, Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Paid Sick Days, Recession, Unemployment
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy BIW criticized for offering only unpaid leave to workers The offer of unpaid leave made by BIW, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, the U.S.’s fifth-largest defense contractor, was immediately condemned on social media. “BIW’s parent company made […] Beacon Posted March 16, 2020 Tags Coronavirus, Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Paid Sick Days, Recession, Unemployment
Maine’s Economy Statehouse rally will push for passage of bills advancing women’s economic rights James Myall, a policy analyst with Maine Center for Economic Policy, said that women tend to see worse economic outcomes because of the expectations that society still […] Beacon Posted March 11, 2020 Tags Economy, Inequality