Taxes and Budget Poll: Mainers prefer investments in housing, infrastructure over one-time checks Policy analysts at the Maine Center for Economic Policy have argued that if the one-time checks were more narrowly targeted, and the amount deposited in the Rainy […] Beacon Posted March 30, 2022 Tags Budget, Revenue
Taxes and Budget Biden proposes billionaire tax to pay for increased spending on military, public health Megan Michaud, vice president of programs and policy with the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said by closing offshore tax loopholes and taxing the unrealized capital gains on […] Beacon Posted March 29, 2022 Tags Budget, Federal, Revenue, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Legislature OKs bill to address ‘dark store’ tax scheme, measure to lift limits on clean syringes As Beacon previously reported, large chain stores try to exploit a “dark store” tax scheme by arguing their retail properties should be valued the same as abandoned shopping centers that […] Beacon Posted March 23, 2022 Tags Budget, Dark Stores, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Report calls for Maine to decriminalize drugs, outlines dangers of punishing substance use The study was produced by the ACLU of Maine and the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP). Based on conversations with more than 150 people — including […] Beacon Posted March 22, 2022 Tags Budget, Health Care, Revenue, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Podcast: The State House floods and some bills are drowned Sarah Austin of the Maine Center for Economic Policy joins the podcast this week to discuss what’s in the state budget, what’s out and what decisions are […] Beacon Posted March 17, 2022 Tags Budget
Taxes and Budget Maine House kicks off floor votes by lifting cap on clean syringes, taxing ‘dark stores’ A 2019 report by the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) found that of the 25 Maine towns with the highest retail sales, 17 had big box stores appeal […] Beacon Posted March 11, 2022 Tags Dark Stores, Property Tax, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness
Taxes and Budget Opinion: Maine’s leaders must make the most out of 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, get our […] Beacon Posted March 2, 2022 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Economy, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget LePage income tax plan punishes poor while enriching wealthy Mainers, advocates say However, economic reports show that LePage-style economics significantly increase taxes for the bottom 80% of Maine families while enriching the wealthiest. In some instances under LePage’s tax policies, Maine’s […] Beacon Posted February 22, 2022 Tags Income Tax, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Dems looking to add housing, behavioral health funding to budget proposal Some analysts say that while the direct checks will likely prove popular in an election year, the effects will be short lived. “While $500 can mean a […] Beacon Posted February 18, 2022 Tags Budget, Health Care, Housing
Jobs and Income LePage admits Medicaid expansion ‘good for Maine,’ but still wants cuts to program James Myall, a policy analyst with Maine Center for Economic Policy, estimates that roughly 86,000 Mainers currently enrolled in MaineCare would be subject to the requirement if […] Beacon Posted February 17, 2022 Tags Health Care, Job Quality, Medicaid