Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Tariffs — An Explainer Updated May 15, 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 May 15, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Jobs, Taxes
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 Maine childcare system needs improvements to help parents, workers, panel says And for workers in the industry, the average pay of $17.12 per hour pales in comparison to what a kindergarten teacher makes, said Arthur Phillips of the […] Spectrum News Posted May 12, 2025 Tags Child Care, Economy, Jobs, Wages
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
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Lawmakers hear proposals to better support families and child care providers According to the Maine Center for Economic Policy, an estimated 18,000 people in Maine are currently out of the labor force due to a lack of child care. […] Maine Morning Star Posted April 4, 2025 Tags Budget, Child Care, Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income Proposals to bolster farmworkers’ hour and wage rights back before Legislature The Maine AFL-CIO was generally in favor of the proposals, but described LD 588 as a compromise. All three of the bills were also supported by the […] Maine Morning Star Posted April 2, 2025 Tags Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Racial Equity
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 Direct care workers fight for restoration of cost-of-living increases in Maine budget Arthur Phillips, policy analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy, a progressive think tank, said that without the COLAs, the average direct care worker will lose […] Sun Journal Posted March 6, 2025 Tags Direct Care Work, Incomes, Job Quality, Jobs
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 Speaker of Maine House unveils bill to ease health care workforce shortage A June 2024 analysis by the Maine Center for Economic Policy think tank said that Maine needs to hire an additional 2,300 full-time direct care workers — there are […] Portland Press Herald Posted January 13, 2025 Tags Budget, Direct Care Work, Job Quality, Jobs