Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget Tariffs — An Explainer Updated August 12, 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 August 12, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Jobs, Taxes
Health Care, Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget 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 Tags Appropriations Committee, Budget, Caregiving, Child Care, Consumer Protection, Corporate Power, Direct Care Work, Economic Security, Farmworkers, Health Care, Housing, Immigration, Income Tax, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Revenue, Tax Breaks, Tax Fairness, Taxes
Health Care, Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy, Taxes and Budget How Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” further enriches the rich and immiserates the poor On July 4, President Trump signed into law the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) after passage in the Senate and the US House of Representatives. It […] James Myall Posted July 8, 2025 Tags Budget, Child Tax Credit, Economic Security, Economy, Federal, Health Care, Immigration, Inequality, Jobs, Medicaid, Racial Equity, SNAP, Tax Fairness, Taxes, Trump Tax Cuts
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
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
Jobs and Income Wednesday Sit-Down: Keeping the strong job market going In this week’s Wednesday Sit-Down, Garrett Martin, CEO of the Maine Center of Economic Policy, sits down with CBS13 to talk about the strong job market. Click […] WGME Posted May 21, 2025 Tags Jobs, Wednesday Sit Down
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
