MECEP Publications

Health Care and Tourism: A Lead Sector Strategy for Rural Maine: Chapter 3: Socioeconomic Indicators of Maine's Regional Disparities

info@mecep.org (Edmund Cervone) — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Health Care and Tourism: A Lead Sector Strategy for Rural Maine: Chapter 2: A Brief History of Maine Rural Development Policy

info@mecep.org (Charles Colgan and Richard Barringer) — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Health Care and Tourism: A Lead Sector Strategy for Rural Maine: Chapter 1: Revitalizing Maine's Rural Economy - A Lead Sector Strategy

info@mecep.org (David Vail) — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Health Care and Tourism: A Lead Sector Strategy for Rural Maine: Full Report

info@mecep.org (David Vail and Lisa Pohlmann, Editors) — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EDT

This work makes the case for promoting two venerable service sectors – health care and tourism – because they account for more than one-in-four jobs in an area designated by the State Planning Office as the “rim” counties (Aroostook, Franklin, Oxford, Piscataquis, Somerset, and Washington). Both sectors bring in substantial outside revenues, have strong linkages to other rural economic sectors, contribute greatly to community vitality – and also have untapped growth potential. For more information please visit the MECEP Spreading Prosperity Project Webpage.

Health Care and Tourism: A Lead Sector Strategy for Rural Maine: Executive Summary

info@mecep.org (David Vail and Lisa Pohlmann, Editors) — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EDT

EPS: The Bedrock of School Funding Decisions

info@mecep.org (Douglas Rooks) — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 EDT

"If local budgets are brought into line with the state’s categories and definitions, EPS will become a highly useful tool not only to examine past spending patterns, but also to adopt a sensible budget for the coming year."

More Maine Families Go Hungry as Food Stamp Program Declines

info@mecep.org (Nicole Witherbee) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EDT

This issue identifies the need for an improved Food Stamp program to alleviate the hunger felt by thousands of Maine residents. The report documents the ways in which the nation’s largest and most comprehensive nutrition program has altered the landscape of hunger in Maine and is threatened by eroding benefits that do not sustain an adequate healthy diet.

Getting By: Maine Livable Wages in 2006

info@mecep.org (Ed Cervone, Judy Ward, Lisa Pohlmann, and Christopher St. John) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Since 1999, MECEP has been calculating estimates of what it costs Maine families to make ends meet and the wages they must earn to meet those costs. The estimates are meant to provide a realistic benchmark for how we look at and address economic security for all Maine people.

This market-basket analysis accounts for today’s actual living expenses, including housing, transportation, child care, health care, and taxes as well as regional variations and family make-up. Using basic needs budgets, a livable wage is calculated by dividing the total expenses in a basic needs budget by the number of hours that make up a year of full-time work. This determines an estimated adequate hourly wage. In this issues brief, we present the 2006 basic needs budgets and livable wage estimates for Maine, its counties, and metropolitan areas.

State of Working Maine 2007

info@mecep.org (Edmund Cervone) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Maine has experienced better growth than the region over the last six years on indicators like gross state product, per capita income and export dollars. This is coupled; however, with low employment growth, lopsided wage growth, an ageing workforce, and skill shortages in the workforce. Some of the highlights include:

Job gains in Healthcare and Education, Professional and Business Services, and Construction
Continued job losses in Manufacturing and Financial Services
Slow wage growth for low and moderate income earners
Widening wage gap between low and upper income earners
Maine continues to lag the region and nation in workers with post-secondary degrees
One third of all Mainers in households with incomes 200% of poverty or less
Large shares of workers unable to earn a livable wage
Regional economic disparities continue across the state

This year’s report has a wealth of data outlining employment, wage, and income trends for Maine and the region as well as a detailed breakdown of the Maine workforce and its characteristics. The report offers several recommendations for investments in the areas of building the workforce, research and development, infrastructure improvements, and development of a long-term rural economic development plan.

Building on MaineCare's Success

info@mecep.org (Lisa Pohlmann and Christine Hastedt) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Medicaid was originally designed to provide health coverage to low-income elders, people with disabilities, and families with children receiving cash welfare, but has evolved to assume responsibility for many more people who fall through the cracks of private insurance coverage as a result of the U.S. health care system. Filling the growing gaps in health coverage has increased the costs of states’ Medicaid programs; however, the real culprit for state budgets is the ever-rising costs of health care generally. Indeed, Maine, like the nation, is experiencing a health care crisis, not a Medicaid crisis. Policymakers should reject “quick fix” solutions like cost sharing and benefit limits that save little money and reduce access to needed care, resulting in higher costs throughout the health care system.

Maine Revenue & Spending Primer 2007

info@mecep.org (Edmund Cervone) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT

The primer is a roadmap to state, municipal and county government revenues and expenses in a simple, graphic format. For the past four years, our primer has been a valuable, credible, easy-to-use resource for legislators, government officials, business leaders, advocacy groups and concerned citizens and taxpayers. Its purpose is to provide a common vocabulary and data for tax and budget discussions.

Looking at the 2008 Federal Budget

info@mecep.org (Nicole Witherbee) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Find out what we'll be paying attention to in Washington, D.C. next year and why it matters to Maine.

Applying a Business Model to Government: Lessons from the Past

info@mecep.org (Frank O'Hara) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT

The focus of attention in the legislature this year is how to reduce administrative costs. In this issue we explore how government can be more efficient, effective and whether a business commission model is useful.

Executive Summary: Maine's Levels of Government Spending

info@mecep.org — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Analysis by the Maine State Planning Office, the Maine Office of Fiscal and Program Review, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Maine's Levels of Government Spending & Tax Burden

info@mecep.org (Kurt Wise, Fiscal Policy Analyst) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EDT

In this issue we discuss how Maine's spending and tax burden compares to other states and what some of the impact we might expect by altering current spending patterns.

MaineCare Costs: The Real Story Behind the Numbers

info@mecep.org (Christine Hastedt, Ana Hicks and Kurt Wise) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Each state designs and administers its own Medicaid program which is then supported at varying rates by federal dollars. This paper explores why MaineCare (Maine's medicaid program) appears costly but actually saves Maine money.

Low-Income Housing Reforms

info@mecep.org (Nicole Witherbee, Ph.D, Federal Budget Analyst) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Maine's economy benefits from the $68 million in federal funds that support the Section 8 program, but reforms are needed.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program: Providing Local Relief to Maine with Federal Low-Income Housing Reform

info@mecep.org (Nicole Witherbee, Ph.D.) — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Maine Center for Economic Policy was contracted by the Maine Affordable Rental
Housing Coalition to survey local housing authorities in Maine to determine how effectively
the Section 8 program is meeting the needs of low-income people in Maine. The survey was
also used to detail how pending Congressional legislation might impact the program in our
State.

Quality, Affordable Health Care: A Work in Progress, A Window of Opportunity

info@mecep.org (Dr. Robert McAfee) — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

For over four decades, Maine has undertaken a number of initiatives to improve health care quality, access and affordability. Reforming health care is the big issue of this election season. Maine's leadership efforts in health care reform has led to the lowest uninsured rate in New England. Dr. McAfee makes a compelling argument on how that standing will be jeopardized if recently enacted taxes on beer, wine and soft drinks are vetoed.

What's Next for School Funding Reform?

info@mecep.org (Douglas Rooks) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

In 2007, the legislature enacted a landmark school district consolidation initiative to help with runaway school funding costs and a shrinking student population. Recognizing both the need for change and resistance to reform, this issue of Choices presents a 'third way' to make the consolidation law more attractive to local school districts.