Health Care Sen. Susan Collins highlights struggles of rural healthcare providers in amendment to spending package The Maine Center for Economic Policy has said 4 Maine hospitals are likely to close if the legislation is passed with its proposed cuts to Medicaid. Click here to […] WABI Posted June 24, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Federal, Medicaid, Trump Tax Cuts
Jobs and Income Gov. Mills vetoes farmworker protections bill Arthur Phillips, economic policy analyst at MECEP, called that bill a “historic step forward,” but wrote that the veto of LD 588 makes it a “partial victory.” […] Beacon Posted June 24, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Farmworkers, Inclusive Economy, Job Quality, Jobs, Racial Equity
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
Maine’s Economy New federal bill threatens immigrants and Maine’s progress Immigrants are vital to Maine’s communities and economy. They work in health care, agriculture, hospitality, and education. They raise families, pay taxes, and help counter our state’s […] Megan Michaud Posted June 18, 2025 Tags Child Tax Credit, Economic Security, Economy, Food Insecurity, Health Care, Immigration, Racial Equity, SNAP, Trump Tax Cuts
Health Care Federal budget plan puts Maine’s rural hospitals at grave risk, reports show More than 300 rural hospitals nationwide, including four in Maine, could close if the federal budget includes proposed deep cuts to Medicaid, according to two new analyses […] James Myall Posted June 18, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Health Care, Medicaid, Trump Tax Cuts
Taxes and Budget Tax bracket bill would raise taxes on the wealthy, cut bottom bracket The Taxation Committee reported out an amended version of LD 229, a bill that creates two new top income tax brackets for higher earners and lowers the […] Maura Pillsbury Posted June 11, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Income Tax, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Tariffs — An Explainer Updated July 10, 2025 What are tariffs? Tariffs are taxes on imported goods. When targeted and strategically planned, they can counter unfair trade practices, serve as negotiation […] Karin Leuthy Posted June 10, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Jobs, Taxes
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