Health Care Health insurance costs will soar for 66,000 Mainers if Congress doesn’t act Among the many provisions included in the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress in 2021 was a program to increase the affordability of health insurance purchased through […] James Myall Posted May 13, 2022 Tags Children, Federal, Health Care, Seniors
Education, Jobs and Income Student debt cancellation would help working families, improve equity, and expand access to higher education Last week, President Biden stated he is considering cancelling some amount of student debt and expects to make a decision on the issue in the coming weeks.1 […] Arthur Phillips Posted May 10, 2022 Tags Education, Employment, Housing, Incomes, Inequality, Jobs, Racial Equity, Seniors, Student Debt
Health Care, Maine’s Economy Overturning Roe undermines Americans’ economic security The US Supreme Court’s apparent intention to overturn Roe v Wade strikes a calamitous blow against decades of legal precedent, dangerously impacting health, privacy, and self-determination for […] MECEP Posted May 4, 2022 Tags Economic Security, Health Care, Inequality, Poverty
Taxes and Budget The best of the budget for Maine’s economy The 130th legislative session began with a surplus of more than $800 million which was revised up to $1.2 billion in March. The bipartisan budget approved last […] Sarah Austin Posted April 28, 2022 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Economy, Education, Housing, Infrastructure, K-12 Education, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Restoring fairness for the Wabanaki requires Congressional action, too The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Penobscot Nation, and Mi’kmaq Nation are recognized under federal law. But unlike the 570 other federally recognized tribes, these […] Garrett Martin Posted April 20, 2022 Tags Children, Economic Security, Federal, Inequality
Taxes and Budget Watchdog agency again finds no evidence to support business tax breaks Once again, an investigation by the Maine State Legislature’s watchdog agency has found a lack of oversight and accountability for a business tax break. The Office of […] MECEP Posted April 15, 2022 Tags Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Republican lawmakers want to give millionaires $850 Republican legislators are proposing to remove income caps from the governor’s planned $850 COVID Pandemic Relief Payments. This would make the richest 20 percent of Maine households, […] Sarah Austin Posted April 7, 2022 Tags Budget, Coronavirus, Revenue, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Economic relief should target people who need it most Governor Janet Mills has proposed using the majority of Maine’s historic $1.2 billion budget surplus to pay for economic relief checks to 800,000 Mainers. While the rising […] James Myall Posted March 29, 2022 Tags Budget, Children, Economic Security, Food Insecurity, Housing, Inequality
Taxes and Budget How to create more bang for Maine’s budget bucks This year’s historic budget surplus offers a rare opportunity to invest in Mainers in ways that will have a lasting and tangible impact. While many of the […] MECEP Posted March 23, 2022 Tags Budget, Children, Economy, Education, Health Care, Higher Education, Immigration, Inequality, Racial Equity
Taxes and Budget A Better Path for Maine: The Case for Decriminalizing Drugs Maine spends $111 million to punish people for using drugs. The return on this investment: record shattering overdose deaths, thousands of people held back from reaching their […] MECEP Posted March 21, 2022 Tags Budget, Revenue, Taxes