Taxes and Budget Pension exemptions benefit wealthy households and compromise resources This year, lawmakers included a tax change in the state’s budget that will significantly expand tax benefits for pension recipients in Maine. Beginning in 2023, pension recipients […] Sarah Austin Posted August 25, 2022 Tags Income Tax, Incomes, Revenue, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Education Federal student debt cancellation helps 177,000 Mainers who need help the most Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) celebrates President Biden’s plan to forgive federal student loans — up to $20,000 for people who went to college on Pell […] Posted August 24, 2022 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Education, Federal, Incomes, Jobs, Racial Equity, Student Debt
Taxes and Budget Earned Income Tax Credit expansion provides greater economic security for working families We all want expanded opportunities for our communities and to ensure our neighbors have the support they need to be stable and secure. But corporations are raising […] Sarah Austin Posted May 16, 2022 Tags EITC, Incomes, Poverty, Tax Fairness
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
Education, Jobs and Income Student debt cancellation would help working families, improve equity, and expand access to higher education Last week, President Biden stated he is considering cancelling some amount of student debt and expects to make a decision on the issue in the coming weeks.1 […] Arthur Phillips Posted May 10, 2022 Tags Education, Employment, Housing, Incomes, Inequality, Jobs, Racial Equity, Seniors, Student Debt
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Income of wealthiest in Maine nearly doubled from 2019 to 2020, report shows Sarah Austin, director of policy and research at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said because there weren’t any big changes to the tax code between those […] Beacon Posted December 2, 2021 Tags Incomes, Inequality, Tax Fairness
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy MECEP insight in advance of October jobs report AUGUSTA, Maine — Ahead of the Department of Labor’s Friday release of the October “Employment Situation in Maine,” the Maine Center for Economic Policy is providing the following context: […] Posted November 18, 2021 Tags Economy, Employment, Incomes
Taxes and Budget House Ways and Means Committee tax plan rebalances tax code, boosts incomes for Mainers New analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found provisions in a bill recently approved by the House Ways and Means Committee would improve tax […] Sarah Austin Posted September 29, 2021 Tags Economic Security, Incomes, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Jobs and Income Extra pay for extra work: How Maine can restore overtime pay for 28,000 Mainers When Mainers work long hours, they deserve to be compensated fairly for their extra work. Overtime protections exist to ensure extra work is rewarded with extra pay, […] James Myall Posted March 22, 2021 Tags Incomes, Job Quality, Overtime, Wages
Jobs and Income Wage theft costs workers millions. This bill would help workers get what they’re owed. All Mainers are entitled to the wages they earn, and no one should have their wages stolen by their employer. While most employers play by the rules […] James Myall Posted March 17, 2021 Tags Incomes, Job Quality, Minimum Wage, Overtime, Wages