Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Federal Reserve data shows improved financial wellbeing, particularly among parents, in 2021 The expanded Child Tax Credit, which put more money into parents’ pockets and dramatically reduced childhood poverty, expired at the end of last year Last month, the […] Arthur Phillips Posted June 14, 2022 Tags Child Tax Credit, Children, Economic Security, Federal, Food Insecurity
Taxes and Budget Congress should focus on addressing the many rising costs that are hurting Mainers Election seasons can heighten tensions while reducing legislative activity, but right now, before ads and mail pieces clutter our mailboxes and debates heat up, there’s a window […] Bangor Daily News Posted June 1, 2022 Tags Children, Coronavirus, Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Health Care
Taxes and Budget How Maine is spending federal rescue plan funds Under the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), over $4.5 billion of federal funding is flowing into Maine to contend with the impacts of the COVID-19 […] Maura Pillsbury Posted May 19, 2022 Tags ARPA, Budget, Children, Economic Security, Economy, Health Care, Infrastructure
MECEP report shows the Child Tax Credit made a tangible difference for Maine families The improved and expanded monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) has been one of the most successful and popular American Rescue Plan Act programs, providing flexibility to parents […] MECEP Posted May 13, 2022 Tags Child Tax Credit, Children, Economic Security, Economy, Incomes, Poverty
Taxes and Budget REPORT: How the Child Tax Credit was spent in Maine The improved and expanded monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) has been one of the most successful and popular American Rescue Plan Act programs, providing flexibility to parents […] MECEP Posted May 13, 2022 Tags Child Tax Credit, Children, Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Poverty, Taxes
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
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
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 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