Taxes and Budget Maine’s new supplemental budget focuses on coronavirus response The Maine Legislature on Tuesday enacted a supplemental budget, appropriating an additional $73 million to fund key priorities before the biennial budget expires on July 1, 2021. […] Sarah Austin Posted March 18, 2020 Tags Budget, Coronavirus
Health Care ‘Patients First’ legislation would reduce some health care costs for Mainers Maine Democrats recently introduced a package of bills to reduce health care costs, curb some of the health care industry’s most egregious billing practices and ensure access to critical lifesaving medicine. The suite of bills known as the “Patients […] James Myall Posted March 11, 2020 Tags Health Care
Maine’s Economy Coronavirus highlights the need for all workers to have paid sick leave As the United States and the world grapple with the outbreak of the novel form of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control is advising […] James Myall Posted March 3, 2020 Tags Health Care, Paid Sick Days
Taxes and Budget Anti-'Tax Havens' bill gets new look as effort to close corporate loophole from Trump Tax Cuts Corporations depend on things like an educated workforce, consumers with enough income to pay for services and products, and infrastructure that facilitates commerce. As a state and […] Sarah Austin Posted March 2, 2020 Tags Tax Breaks, Taxes, Trump Tax Cuts
Maine’s Economy General Fund dollars are no solution for Maine's transportation needs Maine faces an annual shortfall of $232 million annually to fund priority transportation infrastructure projects, with the largest unmet needs in bridge projects and highway reconstruction. This […] James Myall Posted February 28, 2020 Tags Bonds, Infrastructure, Taxes
Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Policy Brief: To address wealth inequality, Maine must strengthen its estate tax More and more of society’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few families. At the same time, taxes that target the wealthy have been slashed, […] Sarah Austin Posted February 27, 2020 Tags Estate Tax, Inequality, Revenue, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Maine’s Economy Proposed “Whistleblower” law will help restore workers’ right to hold bad bosses accountable Maine’s lawmakers are revisiting a bill introduced in 2019 that would restore the legal rights of workers trapped in a rigged system that prevents them from having […] James Myall Posted February 24, 2020 Tags Jobs, Minimum Wage, Overtime, Wages
Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Policy Basic: Bonds are a vital tool for investing in the public good A strong and thriving economy depends on long-term investments in roads and bridges, clean water and schools, and other public goods that benefit people and businesses now and in the […] Jody Harris Posted February 21, 2020 Tags Bonds, Infrastructure
Maine’s Economy Fair Chance Employment Act will help reverse racial disparities and reduce likelihood of recidivism Getting and keeping a job is a critical element of economic security, particularly for Mainers who face barriers to opportunity and prosperity. That includes Mainers with criminal […] James Myall Posted February 20, 2020 Tags Employment
Taxes and Budget Federal aid makes up one-third of Maine's budget. Trump's budget plan threatens that funding. President Donald Trump’s 2021 budget proposal paints a crystal-clear picture of his his vision for the country. That vision starts with a plethora of funding cuts that […] Mario Moretto Posted February 13, 2020 Tags Budget, Federal