Maine’s Economy LePage picks 32 communities – including some wealthier ones – for investment incentive “Some analysts think the lightly regulated program could unlock hundreds of billions of dollars from investors who are hesitant to cash out of investments because of capital […] Portland Press Herald Posted May 21, 2018 Tags Economy
Taxes and Budget LePage warns taxpayers that some may need to file amendments to their 2017 returns “Sarah Austin, a tax policy analyst with the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said a relatively small number of people might need to file amended returns because […] Portland Press Herald Posted May 18, 2018 Tags Taxes
Jobs and Income CBS Moneywatch: Must work for food stamps: A modest proposal or recipe for hunger? “… Those who work to combat hunger in Maine say that while food-stamp enrollment has declined, the work requirement hasn’t done anything to reduce hunger in the […] CBS Moneywatch Posted May 17, 2018 Tags Employment, Food Insecurity
Jobs and Income Letter to the editor: Maine bill to restrict food stamps both harmful to poor and expensive “… The proposed bill limits waivers, creates a benefits cliff and applies work requirements to individuals over 50 and parents of school-aged children. These restrictions were modeled on Maine […] Portland Press Herald Posted May 15, 2018 Tags Employment, Food Insecurity
Taxes and Budget MECEP Op-Ed in the Press Herald: More important for Maine to do tax conformity well than to do it quickly It’s more important to get conformity right than it is to do it soon. Whenever it is, the same questions must be asked of a conformity proposal […] Portland Press Herald Posted May 7, 2018 Tags Taxes, Trump Tax Cuts
Education Press Release: Lawmakers should override veto of Student Loan Bill of Rights FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2018 CONTACT: Mario Moretto, Communications Director mario@mecep.org (207) 620-1101 MECEP urges lawmakers to override LePage’s veto of Student Loan Bill of Rights […] Posted May 1, 2018 Tags Student Debt
Taxes and Budget Eye on Augusta: Legislature passes extension of business tax breaks Still, critics have long argued that tax subsidies are a lousy strategy to create jobs and that the money could be better used to address other needs […] The Free Press Posted April 26, 2018 Tags Tax Breaks, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Setting the record straight: Absence of tax conformity will not cause tax increase AUGUSTA, Maine — Recently, some lawmakers’s statements and media reports have misstated the consequences for Maine income tax filers that would come if the Legislature adjourned without […] Posted April 25, 2018 Tags Taxes, Trump Tax Cuts
Jobs and Income Letter to the Editor: A setback for Maine families Does anyone really think Maine’s food pantries can do it all? Between 2011 and 2015, the number of Maine children living in extreme poverty rose eight times […] Sun Journal Posted April 25, 2018 Tags Children, Food Insecurity, Poverty
Jobs and Income Portland council to weigh law requiring paid sick leave In February, an analysis by the Maine Center for Economic Policy determined as many as 19,000 people do not have earned paid time, but Hentzel questioned the […] The Forecaster Posted April 18, 2018 Tags Job Quality, Paid Sick Days