Legislative Rundown: First regular session of the 132nd

Co-authored by James Myall, Arthur Phillips & Maura Pillsbury In the first half of 2025, MECEP presented 110 pieces of testimony before the Maine Legislature that affect […]

MECEP

Posted July 30, 2025

Jobs and Income

Gov. Mills again vetoes bill protecting farmworkers’ right to discuss work conditions

Though most other workers are protected from retaliation when speaking about working conditions, farmworkers have long been excluded because those roles were historically filled by Black workers, […]

Maine Morning Star

Posted June 24, 2025

Tags Economic Security, Farmworkers, Inclusive Economy, Job Quality, Jobs, Racial Equity

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

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Advocates urge lawmakers to offer pay raises to direct care workers

“Keeping wages and benefits flat will only exacerbate the shortage, strain our hospitals and long-term care facilities, and further endanger public health,” he said during a press […]

Maine Public

Posted June 5, 2025

Tags Budget, Direct Care Work, Job Quality, Wages

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Care workers gather at Maine State House to join call for wage increases

The Maine Center for Economic Policy, a progressive think tank, has estimated that 23,500 hours per week of home care for older adults went unserved in 2024 […]

Portland Press Herald

Posted June 5, 2025

Tags Budget, Direct Care Work, Job Quality

Jobs and Income

Portland could raise minimum wage to $20 an hour

A study from the Maine Center for Economic Policy indicates that while the increase would benefit workers across all industries, those in low-wage sectors would experience the […]

Fox 23

Posted May 20, 2025

Tags Incomes, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage

Jobs and Income

Nearly every Maine House and Senate Republican voted to repeal child labor protections

Economic policy analyst Arthur Phillips with the Maine Center for Economic Policy also criticized the bill, highlighting the heightened injury risk and long-term impact for young workers. “Younger workers […]

Beacon

Posted May 19, 2025

Tags Children, Job Quality, Jobs

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

Jobs and Income

Advocates urge state to shore up Maine’s child care system

Arthur Phillips, an analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said about 18,000 Maine people are not in the workforce because they can’t afford child care. […]

Portland Press Herald

Posted May 12, 2025

Tags Child Care, Economy, Job Quality, Jobs, Revenue

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Legislative Rundown: First regular session of the 132nd

Gov. Mills again vetoes bill protecting farmworkers’ right to discuss work conditions

Gov. Mills vetoes farmworker protections bill

Progress for farmworkers — but full justice still denied

Advocates urge lawmakers to offer pay raises to direct care workers

Care workers gather at Maine State House to join call for wage increases

Portland could raise minimum wage to $20 an hour

Nearly every Maine House and Senate Republican voted to repeal child labor protections

Maine’s paid family leave law is under attack — and must be defended

Advocates urge state to shore up Maine’s child care system