Health Care Report: Universal healthcare would protect all Mainers, save state $1.5 billion annually “Not only would a universal healthcare system provide coverage for all Mainers, it would save the state roughly $1.5 billion dollars per year, according to a recently […] Beacon Posted January 2, 2020 Tags Health Care
Jobs and Income New poll of Maine workers shows strong support for more workforce protections A new survey of workers in Maine shows that there is significant desire for the state to take a major role in adopting policies that improve job […] Beacon Posted December 23, 2019 Tags Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income Feminism benefits everyone working jobs historically seen as ‘women’s work’ I attended a town hall meeting and panel discussion on Nov. 23 hosted by the Maine Women’s Lobby. The panel, assembled in the community room at Lithgow […] Beacon Posted November 27, 2019 Tags Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs
Taxes and Budget Walmart, Lowe’s among big retailers scheming to avoid Maine property taxes In a scheme that could lead to millions of dollars in lost revenue for Maine communities, behemoth retailers like Walmart, Lowe’s and Home Depot are looking to […] Beacon Posted November 2, 2019 Tags Property Tax, Tax Breaks
Jobs and Income How Maine’s public university system became one of the biggest threats to worker protections James Myall, a policy analyst with the Maine Center for Economic Policy, who consulted with Tipping on the overtime bill, said, “They tend to oppose anything that is […] Beacon Posted October 30, 2019 Tags Higher Education, Incomes, Job Quality
Jobs and Income Uncertain work schedules linked to food and housing insecurity, anxiety in kids James Myall, a policy analyst with the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said that these outcomes are especially relevant in Maine given that 128,000 of the state’s […] Beacon Posted October 16, 2019 Tags Children, Fair Scheduling, Job Quality
Jobs and Income 28,000 Maine workers stand to miss out on overtime under Trump’s new rule However, had the Obama rule been enacted, a total of 54,000 salaried workers in Maine, or 42 percent of the workforce, would be covered, according to estimates […] Beacon Posted September 23, 2019 Tags Federal, Incomes, Job Quality
Taxes and Budget Tax reforms credited with ensuring Maine’s poorest no longer pay highest tax rate “According to MECEP policy analyst Sarah Austin, who authored the report, the change can be attributed to the Maine Legislature’s passage of an expanded Maine Earned Income […] Beacon Posted September 6, 2019 Tags EITC, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Beacon Podcast: 'Signs of progress' as Maine reaches milestone for tax fairness “The Maine Center for Economic Policy just released information that for the very first time in…decades… the bottom 20% of folks in Maine are going to have […] Beacon Posted September 6, 2019 Tags EITC, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Jobs and Income Report: Maine teachers spend hundreds of dollars of own money on classroom supplies Individuals teachers in Maine spend an average of $356 out of their own pockets on school supplies. While this amount is about a hundred dollars less than […] Beacon Posted August 27, 2019 Tags Education, Incomes, Job Quality