Taxes and Budget ‘Unconscionable’: Lawmakers criticize budget plan to send checks to higher-income Mainers Some advocates also praised the budget plan. In an email, Maine Center for Economic Policy president Garrett Martin lauded the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit and […] Beacon Posted April 15, 2022 Tags Budget
Taxes and Budget MECEP statement on bipartisan budget package AUGUSTA, Maine — Garrett Martin, president & CEO at the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP), released the following statement in reaction to the budget deal announced […] Posted April 15, 2022 Tags Budget
Taxes and Budget Podcast: Better targeting Maine’s one-time checks could fund health care and housing James Myall of the Maine Center for Economic Policy joins the podcast to discuss the current debate in the State House over how much should be sent […] Beacon Posted April 7, 2022 Tags Budget
Taxes and Budget Editorial: Crime and treatment The ACLU and Maine Center for Economic Policy make the case for decriminalizing the use and possession of drugs and investing instead in things like treatment, recovery […] Mount Desert Islander Posted April 7, 2022 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Economy, Inequality
Education Students, advocates applaud new law that bans withholding transcripts over debt The Maine Center for Economic Policy, which advocated for the law, said that nearly 10,000 students in the University of Maine system and attending Maine’s community colleges […] Beacon Posted April 5, 2022 Tags Education, Higher Education
Education, Jobs and Income MECEP applauds Governor Mills, legislative leaders’ passage of bill to empower students by expanding access to transcripts and diplomas AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) applauds Governor Mills and legislative leaders for passing LD 1838, which will substantially reform the harmful practice of transcript […] Posted April 5, 2022 Tags Employment, Jobs, Student Debt
Taxes and Budget Despite spending more than $100 million a year, Maine’s drug crisis is getting worse According to the report by MECEP and the ACLU of Maine, state and local governments spend $111 million a year – more than $8,000, on average, per drug arrest […] Bangor Daily News Posted April 4, 2022 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Economy, 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 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