Maine’s Economy The Shrinking Middle Class We conclude our 2023 “Changing Face of Maine” series with an examination of the state of the middle class in Maine. The American ideal of the middle […] Maine Public Posted December 18, 2023 Tags Economic Security, Economy
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Biden administration touts bonuses to direct care workers in Maine Sperling also highlighted Maine’s decision to use state funds to boost wages for direct care workers to at least 125% of the minimum wage. According to a […] Maine Public Posted December 12, 2023 Tags Budget, Direct Care Work
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy Low pay for direct care workers is costing Maine millions, according to report Undervaluing the direct care workforce in Maine is costing the state millions each year, according to a new report from the progressive Maine Center for Economic Policy. […] Maine Public Posted April 27, 2023 Tags Caregiving, Direct Care Work, Economic Security, Economy, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages
Taxes and Budget Advocates call for the permanent expansion of the child tax credit in Maine As lawmakers negotiate an end of the year tax package, Arthur Philips, a policy analyst with the Maine Center for Economic Policy, says they should reinstate the […] Maine Public Posted December 5, 2022 Tags Child Tax Credit, Children, Federal
Jobs and Income Maine's minimum wage will rise to $13.80 next year Under a provision of a state law that went into effect last year, Maine’s minimum wage will be adjusted annually based on the cost of living index […] Maine Public Posted September 13, 2022 Tags Economic Security, Inflation, Job Quality, Minimum Wage, Wages
Education Could student loan forgiveness factor into Maine's races? The left-leaning Maine Center for Economic Policy estimates that about 177,000 of federal borrowers in Maine will qualify for forgiveness based on the income caps of $125,000 […] Maine Public Posted August 26, 2022 Tags Economic Security, Education, Federal, Higher Education, Student Debt
Education Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan is praised, panned by Maine's federal lawmakers According to an estimate from the Maine Center for Economic Policy, a left-leaning think tank, Biden’s proposal would benefit roughly 177,000 student loan borrowers in Maine, or […] Maine Public Posted August 24, 2022 Tags Economic Security, Education, Federal, Higher Education, Student Debt
Taxes and Budget Report: Maine bears staggering social, monetary costs associated with drug criminalization A new report from the ACLU of Maine and the Maine Center for Economic Policy finds that prosecution and incarceration associated with drug use and possession are costing […] Maine Public Posted March 21, 2022 Tags Budget, Revenue, Taxes
Taxes and Budget WATCH: Mills touts direct payments, 2 free years of community college in State of the State address “For frontline retail workers struggling to make their next rent payment, young families unable to keep their jobs due to constant daycare and school interruptions, and older […] Maine Public Posted February 10, 2022 Tags Budget
Taxes and Budget What The Child Tax Credit Could Mean For Maine Families Allina’s story is unfortunately, probably more common than it should be. The reality is, there are estimates that sort of suggests that it costs between $11,000 and […] Maine Public Posted July 16, 2021 Tags Children, Economic Security, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes