Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Reporting Work Requirements: Bad at encouraging work, good at making people sick and hungry Congress wants to make work reporting requirements in safety net programs harsher and more pervasive to remove supports from tens of thousands of Mainers and use that […] James Myall Posted May 22, 2025 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Federal, Food Insecurity, Health Care, Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, TCJA, Trump Tax Cuts, Unemployment
Taxes and Budget Maine’s economy could lose more than $400 million in federal funds each year under the House reconciliation bill A number of changes to safety net programs, particularly Medicaid (MaineCare) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will lead to more than $400 million less in […] James Myall Posted May 22, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Food Insecurity, Health Care, Jobs, Medicaid, SNAP, TCJA, Trump Tax Cuts
Health Care, Jobs and Income Maine’s paid family leave law is under attack — and must be defended Recently, Maine’s legislative Labor Committee heard testimony on more than a dozen bills on Maine’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, most of which would […] James Myall Posted May 15, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs, Paid Family and Medical Leave
Taxes and Budget Memo: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Maine’s Eviction Prevention Program To aid the Joint Standing Housing and Economic Development Committee in its deliberations on LD 1522, “An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program,” Maine Center […] James Myall Posted May 6, 2025 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Economy, Housing
Taxes and Budget Calm before the storm: New revenue forecast shows little change, for now At a glance: The state’s Revenue Forecasting Commission made only minor adjustments to future revenue estimates, resulting in a net increase of just over $1 million, while […] James Myall Posted May 2, 2025 Tags Budget, Direct Care Work, Education, Medicaid, Revenue, SNAP, Trump Tax Cuts
Taxes and Budget Feds threaten to blow a $649 million hole in Maine’s state budget At a glance: Congress and President Trump are considering cutting federal funds to states, primarily to finance tax cuts for the wealthy, with Maine facing a potential […] James Myall Posted April 3, 2025 Tags Budget, Education, Federal, Revenue, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes, Trump Tax Cuts
Jobs and Income LD 599: Expanding overtime protections for 21,000 salaried workers in Maine At a glance: LD 599 would align Maine’s salary threshold for overtime pay with the federal standard of $58,656, ensuring an additional 21,000 salaried workers are eligible […] James Myall Posted March 28, 2025 Tags Incomes, Job Quality, Overtime, Wages
Taxes and Budget New “continuing services budget” provides stable foundation for future planning Last Friday the appropriations committee approved an $11.5 billion “continuing services” budget to continue state operations at a more-or-less flat level for the next two years. While […] James Myall Posted March 20, 2025 Tags Budget, Caregiving, Child Care, Economic Security, Education, Health Care, Higher Education, Medicaid, Wages
Taxes and Budget Maine Senate Republicans backtrack on budget deal, jeopardizing health care and forestry Updated 3/13/2025 At a glance: Maine Senate Republicans agreed on a budget to help health care and forestry — the state has extra funds to cover these […] James Myall Posted March 12, 2025 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Economy, Jobs, Revenue
Taxes and Budget 8 things to know about federal funding in Maine Federal government spending strengthens communities, improves quality of life, and boosts the overall economy. In Maine, it helps pay for roads, bridges, schools, public safety, and health […] James Myall Posted March 3, 2025 Tags Budget, Federal, Trump Tax Cuts
