Jobs and Income Another labor crisis hits Maine: Parents can’t find child care Under the American Rescue Plan, Maine’s child care providers will be eligible for more than $120 million in federal funds to help keep their doors open, and ultimately […] Sun Journal Posted May 30, 2021 Tags Children, Job Quality
Maine’s Economy Transformative “American Rescue Plan” will deliver $6 billion to Maine’s economy The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act recently approved by Congress will deliver roughly $6 billion to Maine’s economy, according to recent MECEP analysis. The top initiatives that will support Maine’s economic […] James Myall Posted April 2, 2021 Tags Children, Coronavirus, Economic Security, Economy, Education, EITC, Federal, Housing, Infrastructure, K-12 Education, SNAP, Taxes, Unemployment
Taxes and Budget Bill to strengthen EITC would boost incomes for 92,000 Maine families, improve Maine’s tax code The Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, is a proven tool to reduce poverty and give kids from families with low incomes a better shot at success […] Sarah Austin Posted March 23, 2021 Tags Children, EITC, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Health Care Postpartum coverage bill would extend critical health care for new moms in Maine New mothers have unique health care needs that must be met in order for new families to get the best start together. But for many new moms with low incomes, […] James Myall Posted February 26, 2021 Tags Children, Health Care, Medicaid
Health Care Expanding health care for children will put Maine kids on upward trajectory for life Access to affordable health care makes a huge difference to a child’s future. Investing in children’s health care will help ensure we have a healthy population and […] James Myall Posted February 24, 2021 Tags Children, Health Care
Maine’s Economy RESOURCES: Food Insecurity in Maine People who have enough nutritious food are healthier and better able to thrive at home, in their communities, and at work. But today, many Mainers go without […] MECEP Posted December 16, 2019 Tags Children, Food Insecurity, SNAP
Jobs and Income 10 years of failing to raise the federal minimum wage U.S. Department of Labor statistics show that wages grew across the board for Maine workers in 2017. Analysis by the left-leaning Maine Center for Economic Policy found that income growth in […] Bangor Daily News Posted November 27, 2019 Tags Children, Economic Security, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage
Jobs and Income Uncertain work schedules linked to food and housing insecurity, anxiety in kids James Myall, a policy analyst with the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said that these outcomes are especially relevant in Maine given that 128,000 of the state’s […] Beacon Posted October 16, 2019 Tags Children, Fair Scheduling, Job Quality
Taxes and Budget Federal Working Families Tax Relief Act would boost incomes for 187,000 Maine households For many Americans with low incomes, it’s a constant challenge to keep up with expenses and provide for their kids’ basic needs. Many parents work hard but […] Sarah Austin Posted September 4, 2019 Tags Child Tax Credit, Children, EITC, Federal, Incomes, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Maine’s Economy Editorial: Fewer Maine children are living in poverty. Thank the minimum wage increase. The Bangor Daily News editorial board published an editorial citing MECEP’s research linking the 2017 minimum wage increase to a dramatic reduction in child poverty: Income for […] Bangor Daily News Posted October 3, 2018 Tags Children, Minimum Wage, Poverty