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
Taxes and Budget Expanding the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit is an investment in Maine’s future Maine’s Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (DETC) is a vital investment in the state’s future. As Maine’s version of the child tax credit, it helps families with children […] Maura Pillsbury Posted April 1, 2025 Tags Budget, Child Tax Credit, Economic Security
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
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
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
Taxes and Budget Golden’s Family Income Security Credit: strong fundamentals undermined by some problematic provisions Congressman Jared Golden has shared a new idea to change the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and make it better for families. The fundamentals of his plan, called […] James Myall Posted February 28, 2025 Tags Budget, Child Care, Child Tax Credit, Federal, Incomes, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Health Care, Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Proposed Medicaid cuts put Maine families’ incomes at risk At a glance: Proposed Medicaid cuts could affect over 400,000 Mainers, especially children, older adults, and families with low income, reducing access to essential health care and […] Megan Michaud Posted February 21, 2025 Tags Budget, Health Care, Incomes, Inequality, Medicaid, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes, TCJA, Trump Tax Cuts