Jobs and Income Commentary: If you want to empower Maine’s workers, pay a living wage Thanks in part to federal support, the economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession has been strong. While this is a relief to many working people and families, […] Portland Press Herald Posted November 25, 2022 Tags Economic Security, Incomes, Job Quality, Unions, Wages
Education Thousands of Mainers stand to benefit from student debt relief The Augusta-based Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) said in a release Wednesday that roughly 177,000 Mainers, or about 95 percent of the people in the state […] Portland Press Herald Posted August 24, 2022 Tags Economic Security, Education, Federal, Higher Education, Student Debt
Maine’s Economy More than 1,000 march in Portland to protest abortion ruling The Maine Center for Economic Policy said the opinion will damage “the autonomy, health and economic stability of working people” and called on the state’s congressional delegation […] Portland Press Herald Posted June 24, 2022 Tags Economy
Jobs and Income Portland voters may be asked to again consider increasing the minimum wage Councilors also heard Wednesday from an analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy and the director of advocacy at the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce about […] Portland Press Herald Posted June 21, 2022 Tags Local, Minimum Wage, Wages
Health Care Before his death at a local jail, Billy Tucker had big dreams In March, the Maine Center for Economic Policy and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine published a report that made the case for decriminalizing the use and […] Portland Press Herald Posted June 19, 2022 Tags Health Care, Inequality
Health Care Lawmakers vote to give more Maine children access to affordable healthcare At the hearing, groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Children’s Alliance, United Way of Greater Portland and the Maine Center for Economic Policy came out […] Portland Press Herald Posted March 31, 2022 Tags Budget, Children, Health Care
Taxes and Budget Our View: The question at the heart of Maine’s overdose epidemic According to a new report from the Maine chapter of the ACLU and the Maine Center for Economic Policy, state and local governments here spend $111 million on arresting […] Portland Press Herald Posted March 23, 2022 Tags Budget, Health Care, Revenue, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Senate approves bill to limit ‘dark store’ tax challenges A report by the Maine Center for Economic Policy found large retailers in Maine sought $184 million in reduced valuations from 2015-19. The average reduction sought was […] Portland Press Herald Posted March 22, 2022 Tags Dark Stores, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Two Maine groups make case for decriminalizing drug use and possession The Maine Center for Economic Policy and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine discussed findings from their new report “A Better Path for Maine: The Case […] Portland Press Herald Posted March 21, 2022 Tags Budget, Revenue, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Our View: Law would level playing field between communities, big retailers Since 2015, large retailers in Maine have lowered their valuations by more than $16 million combined using this strategy, costing cities and towns hundreds of thousands of […] Portland Press Herald Posted March 14, 2022 Tags Dark Stores, Property Tax, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes