Taxes and Budget Making the most of Maine's historic surplus When a state’s budget fully invests in its people and communities, everyone benefits. Today, Maine has a surplus and policymakers have an opportunity to improve people’s lives, […] Sarah Austin Posted March 1, 2022 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Education, Health Care, Job Quality, Paid Sick Days
Education To help students finish their degrees and ease workforce challenges, Maine should reform transcript withholding College education is a critical tool for Mainers to boost their income and for a stronger economy. We should be seeking opportunities to support students, especially individuals from households with […] Arthur Phillips Posted February 15, 2022 Tags Consumer Protection, Economic Security, Education, Higher Education
Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget MECEP statement on Build Back Better framework AUGUSTA, Maine — Garrett Martin, president & CEO at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, released the following statement on the advancement of President Biden’s Build Back […] Posted October 28, 2021 Tags Budget, Caregiving, Education, Federal, Health Care, Infrastructure
Taxes and Budget State lawmakers make unprecedented investments in Maine communities and families this session Lawmakers delivered unprecedented resources to Maine people and communities this year as federal dollars and strong state tax revenues supported historic levels of investment in response to […] Sarah Austin Posted September 10, 2021 Tags Budget, Caregiving, Children, Education, Higher Education
Education The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is broken — let’s fix it Congress created the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program in 2007 to provide public service workers with student debt relief in exchange for a decade of service […] MECEP Posted September 1, 2021 Tags Education, Federal, Higher Education, Student Debt
Taxes and Budget MECEP response to supplemental budget votes from the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs AUGUSTA, Maine — Garrett Martin, executive director at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, released the following statement about the bipartisan budget agreement passed by the Appropriations […] Posted June 28, 2021 Tags Appropriations Committee, Budget, Education, EITC, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Education Maine lawmakers moving to provide free meals for students James Myall, an analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, told the committee food insecurity can affect a child’s physical and mental health, academic achievement and […] The Center Square Posted June 9, 2021 Tags Children, Economic Security, Education, Food Insecurity
Education Protections for private student loan borrowers protect seniors and people with disabilities In 2019, Maine led the nation by passing the Student Loan Bill of Rights (SLBOR) to address the predatory loan servicing practices that are exacerbating Maine’s student […] MECEP Posted May 18, 2021 Tags Consumer Protection, Education, Higher Education, Student Debt
Education COVID compounds Maine’s education debt crisis. The time to act is now. MECEP economic policy analyst James Myall contributed to this blog post. There was a student loan crisis before the pandemic, now it is even worse. Despite gains in recent […] Jody Harris Posted April 9, 2021 Tags Coronavirus, Education, Higher Education, Student Debt
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