Taxes and Budget Report: Only a third of PPP money went to the workers it was intended for Keeping in line with previously released data that demonstrated that PPP loans overwhelmingly went to big businesses, the new study found that the loans were inefficient in their […] Beacon Posted January 26, 2022 Tags Budget, Federal, Jobs
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Income of wealthiest in Maine nearly doubled from 2019 to 2020, report shows Sarah Austin, director of policy and research at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said because there weren’t any big changes to the tax code between those […] Beacon Posted December 2, 2021 Tags Incomes, Inequality, Tax Fairness
Taxes and Budget Golden votes no as House passes landmark social spending bill After months of debate, the U.S. House early Friday passed President Joe Biden’s landmark social spending bill, which will invest $1.85 trillion in child care, health care, […] Beacon Posted November 19, 2021 Tags Budget, Children, Coronavirus, Federal, Health Care
Maine’s Economy Opinion: Rising prices is exactly why we must pass Build Back Better While the rising cost of living may appear worrying at first, it is important to keep the wider economic context for families in mind. Existing federal relief […] Beacon Posted November 17, 2021 Tags Coronavirus, Economy, Federal
Jobs and Income After pandemic exposed Maine’s frayed safety net, report details best policy solutions The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that policymakers must take steps to improve working conditions and ensure greater racial and economic equity, according to a new report […] Beacon Posted November 9, 2021 Tags Coronavirus, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Unemployment
Jobs and Income Cutting off unemployment benefits did little to return Mainers to work Maine’s negative job growth reflects what’s going on across the nation, said James Myall, a policy analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy. “As expected, coercing […] Beacon Posted October 26, 2021 Tags Coronavirus, Employment, Job Quality, Jobs, Unemployment
Taxes and Budget Analysis: Opportunities abound as federal COVID relief funds flow into Maine counties According to an analysis by MECEP released earlier this month, Maine’s counties in total will receive $261 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Counties have […] Beacon Posted October 22, 2021 Tags Budget, Federal, Local
Taxes and Budget Maine budget committee votes to use relief funds on affordable housing, care services Still, although there are important priorities included in the package, Sarah Austin, budget policy analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said the spending plan could […] Beacon Posted July 16, 2021 Tags Budget
Taxes and Budget Mills’ budget proposal lauded for prioritizing education, revenue sharing, MaineCare The Maine Center for Economic Policy also weighed in on the spending plan, which it called a “significant win for Maine families, especially those who struggled to […] Beacon Posted May 12, 2021 Tags Budget, Coronavirus, Taxes
Taxes and Budget ‘Our wealthiest residents have never had it so good’: Bills aim to make tax code more fair In her testimony, Sarah Austin, tax and budget policy analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, noted that LD 1136 and LD 1443 would only impact the […] Beacon Posted May 7, 2021 Tags Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes