Education, Jobs and Income Poor pay and strained working conditions cause staffing shortages in Maine schools At a glance: Maine has a shortage of educators due to wages that are not competitive Maine educators make less on average than peers with similar levels […] James Myall Posted April 8, 2024 Tags Children, Economic Security, Education, Job Quality, Jobs, K-12 Education, Wages
Taxes and Budget Rent relief can help ease Maine’s housing crisis now Maine should have enough safe, affordable homes for all, including renters. But for many Mainers, a lack of affordable homes and sky-high rents are pulling their bank accounts […] Bangor Daily News Posted March 11, 2024 Tags Economic Security, Housing
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy How public policy has and hasn’t increased equity for Black Mainers Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the extent to which Maine has seen recent progress on reducing inequalities that impact Black Mainers. Data shows […] James Myall Posted February 27, 2024 Tags Economic Security, Employment, Immigration, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Poverty, Racial Equity, Unemployment, Wages
Taxes and Budget Fiscal prudence means addressing Maine’s challenges Governor Mills recently released her proposed supplementary budget. While her budget contains promising investments in the health and financial security of Maine communities, it also withholds resources […] Josie Phillips Posted February 16, 2024 Tags Budget, Caregiving, Corporate Power, Economic Security, Economy, Education, Housing, Inequality, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Rent relief is needed for Maine to endure its housing crisis Maine has made strides in addressing the shortage of housing that is leaving more and more people vulnerable to housing insecurity and homelessness. However, if we are […] Josie Phillips Posted February 14, 2024 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Housing
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Wednesday Sit-Down: state worker wage gap widening In this week’s Wednesday Sit-Down, James Myall, an economic analyst with the Maine Center for Economic Policy, sits down with CBS 13 to break down a new […] WGME Posted February 14, 2024 Tags Budget, Economic Security, Incomes, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages, Wednesday Sit Down
Maine’s Economy Opponents of drug decriminalization say it has been ‘disastrous’ for Oregon. Data suggests otherwise. According to a 2022 report from the Maine Drug Policy Lab, ACLU Maine and the Maine Center for Economic Policy, recent increases to spending on criminalization have “well-outpaced” increases […] The Maine Monitor Posted January 28, 2024 Tags Economic Security
Jobs and Income Feasibility and Impact of Guaranteed Income in Maine Download the PDF: FULL REPORT Executive Summary A great need exists in Maine for the kind of financial support guaranteed income could provide: reliable and periodic payments […] MECEP Posted January 24, 2024 Tags Economic Security, Food Insecurity, Guaranteed Income, Incomes, Inequality, Wages
Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget The Child Tax Credit — An Explainer Updated February 1, 2024 The House recently passed a bipartisan tax package that would expand the federal Child Tax Credit. The legislation will next be considered by […] Karin Leuthy Posted January 24, 2024 Tags Child Tax Credit, Children, Economic Security, Economy, Explainer, Income Tax, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Maine’s Economy Letter: Needed bill reins in big business Unfairly monopolizing industries is already illegal under federal and Maine law. But monopolization can be exceedingly hard to prove, especially under modern, pro-bigness court precedents. L.D. 1815 injects much […] Portland Press Herald Posted January 20, 2024 Tags Consumer Protection, Corporate Power, Economic Security