As Americans file their taxes this year, Maine is taking steps toward tax fairness, passing policies aimed at narrowing the gap between the ultra wealthy and everyone else. At the center of that shift is the state’s new millionaire’s tax, which applies to income over $1 million and is expected to generate about $160 million…
As electricity prices rise in Maine, new federal legislation aims to reverse cuts to clean energy programs and help lower household energy bills. The “Energy Bills Relief Act” would undo many of the policies implemented through last year’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and re-incentivize the adoption of renewable energy technologies. Matthew Davis, vice president…
Reproductive health care advocates gathered in Augusta on Thursday to urge lawmakers to support a bill aimed at protecting funding for family planning services amid federal attacks on reproductive health providers. The measure, LD 335, would establish state funding pathways to ensure patients can continue accessing services such as birth control, cancer screenings, wellness exams,…
After leaving her full-time job of nine years because of serious health issues, Chena Immel said she has spent the last three years struggling to find health insurance she can afford. During a Mainers for Tax Fairness press conference in Augusta on Thursday, Immel and other advocates called on lawmakers to increase taxes on Maine’s…
Maine Gov. Janet Mills has called for a universal health-care plan to address the nation’s affordability crisis, and supporters say there’s no time to wait. Many are backing legislation from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to create a single-payer, federally run health insurance program that replaces most private insurance plans. Dr. Donald Kollisch, a family…
December’s semi-annual revenue forecast for Maine’s general fund reported higher-than-expected revenues for the near future, predicting $250 million more over the next two years than the previous forecast. While this is generally welcome news for the state’s finances, a series of budget pressures on the horizon will strain Maine’s ability to support the most vulnerable Mainers…
Sen. Susan Collins recently accepted an award from the 60 Plus Association, a group that has pushed privatizing Social Security and Medicare, eliminating Affordable Care Act subsidies and defended the Trump administration’s cuts to health care and food assistance. On Nov. 19, the 60 Plus Association, which describes itself as “the conservative alternative to the…
The largest network of reproductive health clinics serving rural Mainers has closed its primary care operations due to Medicaid funding cuts. A provision within the federal budget reconciliation bill passed earlier this year prohibits reimbursements for any provider whose services include abortion. Olivia Pennington, director of advocacy and community engagement for Maine Family Planning, said more than…
On Friday October 17, the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee will hold joint meetings with the Taxation and Health and Human Services Committees to hear from representatives of the Mills Administration on the impacts of HR 1, the Republican megabill (pitched by President Trump as the “Big Beautiful Bill”) on state programs and the budget. HR…
Mainers woke up to a federal government shutdown Wednesday morning after Republicans refused to reinstate funding for Medicaid that was cut this summer and renew the expiring Affordable Care Act premium tax credits. Another vote Wednesday had the same results. This funding is vital for low- and moderate-income working families. Without the premium tax credits,…