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
Taxes and Budget Analyst: COVID relief provision seeks to ensure funds are spent on services, not tax cuts The federal provision doesn’t entirely prevent state officials from cutting taxes. Some scenarios, such as slashing one tax but offsetting it with a tax increase, wouldn’t be […] Beacon Posted March 16, 2021 Tags Budget, Coronavirus, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Fecteau joins coalition calling to end tax loopholes, cuts for wealthiest Mainers Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau joined a coalition of advocacy organizations on Tuesday for a press event organized to call attention to the state’s growing economic inequality […] Beacon Posted March 3, 2021 Tags Budget, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Jobs and Income Collins pushes for federal minimum wage even lower than Maine’s rate Analysts have pointed out that, factoring in inflation, Collins’ new proposal provides even less for low-wage workers than what she supported previously. In 2014, Collins voted against a $10.10 […] Beacon Posted February 26, 2021 Tags Federal, Incomes, Minimum Wage
Taxes and Budget Mills touts budget proposal amid calls to abandon ‘pre-COVID status quo’ Others also weighed in on the governor’s address. In a statement, Garrett Martin, executive director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP), called for state government to […] Beacon Posted February 24, 2021 Tags Budget
Maine’s Economy ‘Food from people to people’: Mutual aid program feeds thousands with barrier-free aid Despite Presenté’s focus on advocating for Latinx and undocumented people, the Food Brigade does not limit aid to those communities. In Maine, more than one in 10 […] Beacon Posted February 22, 2021 Tags Food Insecurity
Taxes and Budget Maine’s proposed corporate tax break would be better spent on other priorities, advocates say MECEP communications director Mario Moretto said that it is ill advised for legislators to consider a new tax break that will disproportionately benefit the corporations that have […] Beacon Posted February 18, 2021 Tags Budget, Coronavirus, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Jobs and Income Maine Republicans introduce eight bills to roll back minimum wage increases “The record for Maine’s voter-approved minimum wage law is clear: Boosting the minimum wage has improved living conditions for working families, decreased child poverty, and strengthened Maine’s economy,” […] Beacon Posted January 21, 2021 Tags Minimum Wage, Wages