Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy Maine minimum wage hits $15.10 in January, boosting pay for 100,000 workers As prices of everyday essentials like food, housing, and health care climb, the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the minimum wage is one of our state’s most […] Arthur Phillips Posted September 15, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Employment, Farmworkers, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Wages
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget LD 1932: Maine direct care bill could raise pay, improve services LD 1932, a direct care bill sponsored by Speaker Ryan Fecteau and carried over from the first legislative session, gives Maine a big chance to keep caregivers, […] Arthur Phillips Posted August 20, 2025 Tags Budget, Direct Care Work, Economic Security, Revenue, Seniors, Wages
Maine’s Economy Progress for farmworkers — but full justice still denied Last week, Maine took a historic step forward by extending the state’s minimum wage to include farmworkers. For too long, the people who grow and harvest the […] Arthur Phillips Posted June 19, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Maine shouldn't balance the budget on the backs of direct care workers At a glance: Proposed budget cuts would lower direct care labor reimbursements, reducing pay and worsening workforce shortages Low wages for direct care professionals already impose significant […] Arthur Phillips Posted March 5, 2025 Tags Budget, Caregiving, Direct Care Work, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Maine must invest in child care, not cut it At a glance: Proposed budget cuts to child care funding will reduce wages for child care workers, limit child care availability, and weaken Maine’s economy Child care […] Arthur Phillips Posted March 3, 2025 Tags Budget, Caregiving, Child Care, Children, Direct Care Work, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Jobs and Income Farmworker Rights — An Explainer Print Updated September 17, 2025 Who are Maine’s farmworkers? The people who milk our cows, rake our blueberries, harvest our potatoes, and do the hard work to […] Arthur Phillips Posted August 29, 2024 Tags Explainer, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Poverty, Racial Equity, Unions, 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
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
Health Care Proposed changes to Medicare Savings Program would impact 45,000 older Mainers’ eligibility for health care benefits Last year, Governor Mills signed a budget into law that expanded eligibility to the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), a profound investment in helping older Mainers pay for […] Arthur Phillips Posted February 29, 2024 Tags Health Care, Medicare, Seniors
Jobs and Income New approaches needed to protect Maine workers’ rights All Maine workers are entitled to the wages they earn and protection from other labor law violations. However, recent data and economic research show how woefully inadequate […] Arthur Phillips Posted February 15, 2024 Tags Job Quality, Jobs
