Maine’s Economy MECEP applauds passage of American Rescue Plan to provide much-needed relief to Mainers AUGUSTA, MAINE — The Maine Center for Economic Policy applauds the passage today of the American Rescue Plan. This legislation is the kind of action the country […] Posted March 10, 2021 Tags Coronavirus, Economic Security, Federal
Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Why is Maine’s revenue picture better than expected? Past recessions wreaked havoc on Maine’s state budget and the COVID recession was expected to do the same. While Maine’s current revenue forecast, finalized in early December […] Sarah Austin Posted March 5, 2021 Tags Coronavirus, Federal, Recession, Revenue, Taxes
Jobs and Income Collins pushes for federal minimum wage even lower than Maine’s rate Analysts have pointed out that, factoring in inflation, Collins’ new proposal provides even less for low-wage workers than what she supported previously. In 2014, Collins voted against a $10.10 […] Beacon Posted February 26, 2021 Tags Federal, Incomes, Minimum Wage
Maine’s Economy With pandemic hardship as high as ever, Congress must move quickly on COVID relief The COVID-19 public health and economic crisis is bigger than any seen in our lifetimes, leaving tens of thousands of Mainers struggling to work, feed their families, and keep a roof over their […] James Myall Posted February 17, 2021 Tags Coronavirus, Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Food Insecurity, Housing, Unemployment
Maine’s Economy Groups Press Sen. Collins: Mainers Need COVID Relief Mario Moretto, communications director for the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said people still are experiencing really elevated levels of hardship. “What Mainers need now more than […] Public News Service Posted February 4, 2021 Tags Coronavirus, Economic Security, Federal
Taxes and Budget RELEASE: No double-dip tax breaks for businesses that received PPP grants AUGUSTA, Maine — Powerful business special interests are pushing the state to enact a double-dip tax break scheme that would take $100 million away from Maine’s COVID […] Posted January 27, 2021 Tags Budget, Coronavirus, Federal, Tax Breaks, Taxes
Taxes and Budget Lawmakers should reject scheme to turn PPP into double tax cuts for profitable businesses Maine’s top priority for a robust, fair COVID recovery must be to provide relief to struggling families and make investments in schools, communities, infrastructure, and services that will […] Sarah Austin Posted January 27, 2021 Tags Budget, Coronavirus, Federal, Revenue, Tax Breaks, Taxes
Maine’s Economy Biden’s COVID relief plan is a solid down payment on promise to ‘build back better’ Last week, President Biden announced his first major legislative proposal — a $1.9 trillion economic aid package branded as the “American Rescue Plan.” The plan includes multiple measures to […] James Myall Posted January 22, 2021 Tags Child Tax Credit, Coronavirus, Economy, Federal
Education A Third Of Maine Student Loan Borrowers Could Have Their Debt Eliminated Under Plan Floated By Biden Jody Harris, the associate director of the left-leaning Maine Center for Economic Policy, said that cancelling debt could be particularly important for borrowers facing financial distress, who may be at […] Maine Public Posted January 20, 2021 Tags Federal, Higher Education, Student Debt
Maine’s Economy How new COVID relief bill with impact Mainers This bill extends the federal unemployment programs Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. “The establishment of a rent relief fund I think will be a […] Fox Bangor Posted December 28, 2020 Tags Coronavirus, Federal