Maine’s Economy 5 reasons to be optimistic about Maine’s economy At a glance: Despite consensus that the economy is in bad shape, Americans are broadly optimistic about their own financial circumstances Economic data mirrors this sentiment: unemployment […] James Myall Posted July 30, 2024 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages
Jobs and Income New federal overtime rule will protect an extra 26,000 salaried Maine workers At a glance: The federal department of labor is raising the threshold for low-paid salaried workers to be eligible for overtime pay, nearly doubling the number of […] James Myall Posted July 3, 2024 Tags Incomes, Job Quality, Jobs, Overtime, Wages
Health Care, Jobs and Income Closing the Gap: Maine’s Direct Care Shortage and Solutions to Fix It Download the PDF version full report Summary Stories Today in Maine, thousands of older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals with behavioral health challenges do not receive […] Arthur Phillips Posted June 17, 2024 Tags Caregiving, Direct Care Work, Economic Security, Employment, Health Care, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages
Taxes and Budget Lawmakers can do better for Maine workers, families and communities Elected leaders in Maine strengthen our communities and address economic challenges through legislation. The major challenge facing Maine’s economy is the state’s plateauing workforce and to solve it we […] Bangor Daily News Posted May 22, 2024 Tags Budget, Direct Care Work, Economic Security, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, K-12 Education, Minimum Wage, Racial Equity, Unemployment, Wages
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Worker justice wins and losses in the 2024 legislative session The second session of Maine’s 131st legislature ended Friday, as resistance from Governor Mills and inaction in the House left many important bills to die. While lawmakers […] Arthur Phillips Posted May 15, 2024 Tags Budget, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages
Taxes and Budget Unfunded bills are unfinished work The legislature has passed a supplemental budget, but its work for this year remains far from done. Both legislative chambers have approved dozens of bills and they […] James Myall Posted April 24, 2024 Tags Child Care, Direct Care Work, Education, Health Care, Higher Education, Job Quality, Minimum Wage, Overtime, Racial Equity, Wages
Taxes and Budget What’s in the $430 million supplemental budget On Monday, Governor Janet Mills signed into law a $430 million supplemental budget passed by the legislature that includes significant investments in pressing needs for Mainers, particularly […] James Myall Posted April 24, 2024 Tags Budget, Education, Housing, Medicare, Revenue, Seniors, SNAP, Wages
Jobs and Income Gov. Mills vetoes 3 bills, including measure to set minimum wage for farmworkers “After a year of deliberation, with all relevant stakeholders at the table agreeing farmworkers should be guaranteed at least the minimum wage, Gov. Mills still chose to […] Portland Press Herald Posted April 23, 2024 Tags Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages
Jobs and Income Labor advocates call Gov. Mills’ veto of her own farmworker wage bill ‘an embarrassment’ Arthur Phillips, policy analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy who served on the minimum wage committee, said Mills “has reaffirmed farmworkers’ second-class status in Maine’s […] Maine Morning Star Posted April 23, 2024 Tags Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages
Taxes and Budget Statement on supplemental budget AUGUSTA, Maine — Garrett Martin, president & CEO at the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP), released the following statement in reaction to the budget approved by […] Posted April 23, 2024 Tags Budget, Child Care, Corporate Power, Direct Care Work, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes, Wages