Taxes and Budget

The hidden SNAP cut that keeps growing

At a glance: Since passage of the Republican “Big Beautiful Bill,” 3.5 million people have lost SNAP benefits, and people who still qualify will get less help […]

Mark Shaffer

Posted June 23, 2026

Tags Budget, Federal, Food Insecurity, SNAP

Health Care, Taxes and Budget

How MaineCare is helping more Mainers afford health care and strengthening the economy

At a glance: MaineCare helps nearly 476,000 Mainers pay for health care, including doctor visits, medicine, and long-term care. It helps children, older adults, people with disabilities, […]

James Myall

Posted June 11, 2026

Tags Budget, Federal, Health Care, Medicaid

Health Care, Taxes and Budget

Federal bailout package for rural hospitals fails to deliver

HR 1, the harmful Republican megabill that delivered trillions in tax cuts for wealthy households and large corporations, also cut $911 billion from Medicaid, $134 billion of […]

Mark Shaffer

Posted May 28, 2026

Tags Budget, Economic Security, Health Care

Health Care

7 things to know about the political attacks on MaineCare

For decades, politicians have used isolated stories about public assistance fraud to divide people and build support for cuts that ultimately hurt working families while benefiting the […]

MECEP

Posted May 14, 2026

Tags Federal, Health Care, Immigration, Medicaid, Trump Tax Cuts

Taxes and Budget

Thousands of Mainers lose food assistance in wake of One Big Beautiful Bill changes

Author’s note: This blogpost uses available data from March 2026. Some newer data from April 2026 is now available, showing the total reduction in Maine SNAP recipients […]

James Myall

Posted May 13, 2026

Tags Budget, Federal, Food Insecurity, SNAP

Health Care, Maine’s Economy

2026 Session Recap: Health care and the safety net

The legislative session in 2026 was overshadowed by federal threats to food security and health care. In particular, the passage of HR 1 last year created a […]

James Myall

Posted April 30, 2026

Tags Budget, Federal, Health Care, Medicaid, SNAP

Maine’s Economy

2026 Session Recap: Immigration and tribal sovereignty

The Maine legislature made mixed progress on racial equity in 2026. While there were efforts to shield New Mainers from excessive actions of federal agencies like US […]

James Myall

Posted April 30, 2026

Tags Federal, Immigration, Racial Equity, Tribal Sovereignty

Jobs and Income

2026 Session Recap: Workers and the care economy

The second session of the 132nd legislature included the passage of several laws that will improve working conditions for Mainers and make it easier to get access […]

James Myall

Posted April 30, 2026

Tags Caregiving, Child Care, Direct Care Work, Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs

Taxes and Budget

2026 Session Recap: Tax policy

By Maura Pillsbury and Mark Shaffer The 2026 legislative session delivered major milestones in tax fairness, including: passage of a millionaire tax signed by the governor into […]

Maura Pillsbury

Posted April 23, 2026

Tags Property Tax, Tax Fairness, Tax Havens, Taxes, Trump Tax Cuts

Taxes and Budget

What’s in the 2026 supplemental budget package

The Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee (AFA) met Wednesday and recommended passage of a supplemental budget bill that raises taxes on the highest-earning Mainers and draws from […]

James Myall

Posted April 3, 2026

Tags Appropriations Committee, Budget, Revenue, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness

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The hidden SNAP cut that keeps growing

How MaineCare is helping more Mainers afford health care and strengthening the economy

Federal bailout package for rural hospitals fails to deliver

7 things to know about the political attacks on MaineCare

Thousands of Mainers lose food assistance in wake of One Big Beautiful Bill changes

2026 Session Recap: Health care and the safety net

2026 Session Recap: Immigration and tribal sovereignty

2026 Session Recap: Workers and the care economy

2026 Session Recap: Tax policy

What’s in the 2026 supplemental budget package