Latest news with #MaineCenterforEconomicPolicy
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Amid rising costs, lawmaker wants to restart conversation about universal health care
Mainers spend more than $18.5 billion annually on health care, nearly 20% of the state's Gross Domestic Product, according to a 2024 report from the Maine Center for Economic Policy. (Photo:) One legislator is pushing to explore the possibility of a publicly funded universal health care system for Maine, which would expand coverage to more than 59,000 currently uninsured residents. During a public hearing on Wednesday, proponents stressed the urgent need for a better health care system, though the state's affordable health care office said there is 'no path forward' for establishing such a program right now. One bill, LD 1269, proposes a comprehensive study to analyze the costs and feasibility of a universal health care plan. Another, LD 1883, offers a detailed blueprint for a state-wide system called the All Maine Health Program that would provide comprehensive coverage to all Maine residents. If passed, Maine would be the only state in the country to shift to a universal health care system. During the hearing before the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Rep. AnnMarie Mastraccio (D-Sanford), who introduced both bills, said a state-wide system has not been studied comprehensively since 2002, and that 'it's time to update those numbers and evaluate our options.' She is aiming to address rising health care challenges including the closure of hospitals in rural Maine, the uncertainty around Medicaid funding, and overall health care costs increasing. Mainers spend more than $18.5 billion annually on health care, nearly 20% of the state's Gross Domestic Product, she said. 'Maine's current health care system is fragmented, inefficient and economically unsustainable,' Mastraccio said.'As legislators, we have a responsibility to make data-driven decisions that promote a sustainable, equitable health care infrastructure that begins with understanding the true costs and potential savings of a universal, publicly funded system.' Dozens of health care providers, advocates and Mainers who have struggled with medical costs testified in support of the bills, highlighting the urgent need for reform. They pointed to the lack of access to providers in rural areas, racial disparities in health care access in the state and the financial strain on both patients and providers because of the patchwork system of insurance coverage. 'The burden of this poor health infrastructure falls disproportionately on women of color, Black and Indigenous women and low income and rurally located women,' said Lily James, advocacy coordinator for the Maine Women's Lobby. For example, 65% of pregnant Black Mainers receive adequate prenatal care in 2022, compared to 87% of white Mainers, according to Maine Department of Health and Human Services data. And 22% of pregnant Mainers have to travel more than 45 minutes to access a birthing hospital, according to a 2023 report that James cited. 'The All Maine Health Program would be life changing, and in many cases, life saving for so many Mainers and will pave the way for the desperately needed changes to Maine's health care infrastructure,' James said. A November 2024 report from the Maine Center for Economic Policy found that, based on current demographics and insurance coverage, the cost of such a program would roughly equal the amount Mainers spend now, between $17.8 and $19.3 billion. Testifying on behalf of the plan, James Myall, a policy analyst for MECEP who authored the report, said that, unlike the current system, the cost of a universal system could be offset by other revenue streams, such as federal grants or increasing taxes on the wealthiest Mainers. 'This means that most Mainers will pay less under the proposed plan than under the status quo, while also being free of the stresses that come from being unable to afford copays and deductibles, worrying about in-network coverage, or switching insurance providers,' he told lawmakers. Meg Garratt-Reed, director of Maine's Office of Affordable Health Care, which was established by the Legislature in 2021, testified against both bills, saying the state isn't in a position to implement them with the current financial constraints and the amount of change that would be required to implement the program. While she acknowledged that Maine's health system is flawed and praised the intent behind the bills, she said a single-payer program would be too costly and complex to set up right now. The All Maine Health Program aims to save money by removing insurance companies from the system, which would reduce administrative costs like billing as well as shareholder profits. But Garratt-Reed said those savings wouldn't be enough to offset the added expenses in the plan. The bills would expand what's covered, increase payments to providers, and do less to limit unnecessary or overly costly treatments — all of which would drive up overall spending. She also said the bills would move away from the current cost-control system used by Medicare and MaineCare, Maine's Medicaid system, which set fixed prices for services. Instead, the state would have to negotiate rates with each provider — a more complex and less efficient process that could lead to even higher costs. The proposal also relies on using federal money (such as Medicaid and Medicare funds) to pay for the new system — but federal law doesn't let states reallocate money designated for specific programs without special permission, she said. And the federal government is very unlikely to give that permission, Garratt-Reed said, especially under the current political situation, pointing to congressional Republicans' proposal to drastically cut Medicaid funding. 'I think we can all agree that our current health care system is flawed, and that many people suffer because of those flaws. However much we may wish that we could recreate our nation's health care system from the ground up, we have a responsibility to those people to pursue solutions that have real potential to ease their suffering,' she said. 'The reality is there is no path forward for implementing such a program in Maine now or in the immediate future.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Forget the motherhood medals — Maine parents need real support
"Parents don't need platitudes. They need paid leave, child care they can afford, and food on the table," writes James Myall of the Maine Center for Economic Policy. (Photo by Maskot/ Getty Images) President Donald Trump's team is reportedly seeking ways to encourage Americans to have more children. They've looked at everything from baby bonuses to motherhood medals. Yet at the same time, policies perused by the president and his fellow Republicans are making life for parents harder and more expensive. Pronatalism can be a problematic idea, and it's debatable how much we actually need to increase birth rates. But we should all be able to agree on making kids' lives more fulfilling and parents' jobs a little easier. Here are some places to start. Instead of imposing tariffs that will raise the cost of everything from kids' clothes to strollers, Republicans could give parents a helping hand by expanding the child tax credit. When the credit was expanded nationally in 2021, the number of children living in poverty in Maine was cut in half. As they consider a new tax bill this year, lawmakers in Washington could repeat that success. Closer to home, lawmakers in Augusta are considering a smaller but meaningful change to the state level credit, increasing the amount for the most vulnerable kids in our state. Instead of submitting a dozen bills to repeal or weaken Maine's new paid family and medical leave program, Republicans could support the initiative which will allow thousands of Maine parents each year to take time off for childbirth or to care for a sick kid. PFML makes for healthier kids and allows parents (especially moms) to continue participating in the labor force. Instead of cheering on the president's illegal withholding of funds for school meals, and food banks, Maine Republicans could be working to ensure state funding replaces lost federal funds that help the one in five Maine families with kids at risk of going hungry. They could also urge their congressional colleagues not to cut more than a fifth of the funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, in which a third of Maine participating households have children. Republicans could also fight to protect health care coverage for Maine kids and parents. Expanding Medicaid coverage has restored coverage to 11,000 parents that lost their eligibility under former Governor Paul LePage's cuts, but Republicans in Congress are putting that at risk with multiple plans to slash Medicaid funding at the federal level. State lawmakers could also support parents by funding child care programs and supporting child care workers. Trump has targeted the Head Start program for cuts, so far withholding $1 billion from states across the country. In Maine, Governor Janet Mills's budget proposes reducing state support for the program, while also cutting wages for child care workers. Instead of taking away this crucial support for parents, lawmakers can strengthen it, ensuring that workers are paid fairly while keeping programs affordable for parents. As any parent will tell you, raising kids is hard. But it's not difficult to see ways to at least make parenting — and childhood — a bit easier. If Republicans want more babies, they should stop punishing the parents who already have them. Parents don't need platitudes. They need paid leave, child care they can afford, and food on the table. If politicians can't deliver that, they should stop pretending to care about families at all. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labor committee opts to keep paid family and medical leave program in tact, for now
Advocates and lawmakers in May 2023 rallied outside the Maine State House in support of Paid Family and Medical Leave, which was signed into law later that spring. (via Maine Center for Economic Policy) Heeding the advice from the Maine Legislature's Democratic leadership, the Labor Committee is not endorsing proposals that would make substantial changes to the state's new paid family and medical leave program. While voting on a series of bills related to the new benefit program Wednesday afternoon, the majority of the committee threw its support behind just two of them. Though a proposal intended to safeguard the future of the program's trust fund drew bipartisan support, Democrats voted down any new exemptions to the program, as well as an effort to make the benefit voluntary. 'If we pull at the threads now, we are going to unravel some really hard-earned consensus,' said House co-chair Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor), noting the years-long process that went into developing the program that was made law by the 131st Legislature. On several bills, some Republicans on the committee put forth a sizable amendment backed by a minority of lawmakers with a list of 10 recommendations to update the program at-large. It includes clarifications to the undue hardship provision, capping the cost of private plan applications and modifying return-to-work requirements, among other provisions. While some members, including some Republicans, were hopeful that LD 1712 brought by Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick) could be a compromise to address issues raised with the program, Democrats ultimately voted it down. The paid family and medical leave program will allow eligible public and private sector workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for reasons such as illness, to care for a loved one or the birth of a new child. At the start of the year, Maine employers began withholding a portion of wages to pay into the program's fund. Employees are expected to be able to access the benefit starting May 2026. The committee voted 8-1 in favor of an amended version of LD 1221, which was introduced by Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford). While the legislation originally proposed a constitutional amendment prohibiting the Legislature from using the program funds for any other purpose, the amendment supported by most members instead directed the Department of Labor to determine ways to further protect the money and report back to the committee early next year. Luke Monahan, director of the paid family and medical leave program for the Department of Labor, told the committee that there is $75 million in the fund as of Wednesday. Additionally, he said more than 900 applications for employers to use private plans have been approved so far. The committee also backed the legislation brought by Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland), on behalf of the department. LD 894 wants to make a series of amendments to the current law to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave. Though Daughtry urged her fellow lawmakers to give the program time to be fully implemented before making substantial reforms, she said the changes in her bill are coming from the people who have been working to implement this program that identified specific refinements to the policy. During the public hearing, Daughtry opposed every other bill except her own, but told the committee that if she were to support one, it would be LD 1221. Some of the bills before the committee were duplicative, including two seeking to repeal the program entirely. While all members voted to reject LD 539 for streamlining purposes, three Republicans on the committee voted in favor of one of the repeal bills, LD 406. Multiple bills were unanimously rejected by the committee, including LD 575, which wanted to remove the undue hardship clause and LD 1249, which sought to delay the payment of benefits. However, the committee voted along partisan lines on proposals to make the program voluntary (LD 1273), exempt agricultural workers from the program (LD 952), certain public school district employees (LD 1400), along with two measures seeking to issue refunds to employers who had approved private plans (LD 1169) and (LD 1307). SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tax Day rally draws critics of Trump funding cuts outside Maine State House
Apr. 15—AUGUSTA — About 100 people gathered outside the Maine State House on Tuesday to protest Trump administration cuts to government services and call for tax reform at the state and federal level. "The objective today was to call attention to the fact the Trump administration is prioritizing the interest of donors and corporate elites over those of us who believe our communities and the investments we make are vital to our shared success as a nation and as a state," said Garrett Martin, president and CEO of the Maine Center for Economic Policy. The center leads Mainers For Tax Fairness, a coalition of nonprofits and advocacy groups that supports reform to Maine's tax code and hosted Tuesday's rally. The rally came on Tax Day, and as the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have talked about extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which reduced the corporate tax rate and income taxes for the wealthy. At the same time, the administration has been working to reduce government spending through cuts to programs and services. Republicans have also proposed cuts to Medicaid and funding for school meals. Some at Tuesday's rally held signs that read, "Trump Guts Our Healthcare" and "Tax the Rich." A series of speakers organized by Mainers for Tax Fairness condemned recent Trump administration cuts that have impacted Maine, including a Trump executive order to slash the Institute of Museum and Library Services, staffing cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and funding cuts for programs that supply food to schools and food banks. "Right now, funding is being cut for some of the most crucial programs we rely on to keep our families healthy and strong," said Sarah McDarby, a mother and patient advocate from Woolwich. "We want our children and our low-income community members fed. We want our veterans housed and employed. We love our schools, our libraries, our parks and our forests." Speakers called for support of bills in Maine that would fund programs that have been affected by Trump cuts and that would tax the wealthy as a means of generating more state revenue to support such programs. Those bills include LD 143, which would increase state funding for reproductive health care such as birth control, cancer screenings and gynecological care; and LD 1089, which would add a 4% surcharge on any taxable income in excess of $1 million a year and use that additional revenue to maintain the state's commitment to provide 55% of public school funding. Katrina Ray-Saulis, a union representative at the Maine Service Employees Association, told the crowd that the association worked with employees at the Maine State Library who were laid off last week after the Trump administration indefinitely suspended funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The library said it laid off 13 employees — about one-third of its staff. "Let's face it, these funding cuts are not about government waste," Ray-Saulis said. "If they were, they would be done strategically and carefully. These funding cuts are ruining lives and tearing apart the public services that are the best of what America has to offer — public education, the arts, science, research and libraries. "We protest because we want our taxpayer dollars spent to bolster things like library services," Ray-Saulis added. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
On Tax Day, Mainers rally against tax breaks for the wealthy
Nelson (left) and Sharon Beaudoin, both retired educators from Auburn, gathered in Augusta on April 15 to voice their raising taxes on the wealthy. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) As some Mainers finalized their taxes on Tuesday, roughly 75 used the filing deadline to protest what they view as state and federal tax structures that favor the rich — and more broadly, the Trump administration's cuts to programs relied on by average Mainers that they see as footing the bill. As Auburn resident Nelson Beaudoin told Maine Morning Star, there are a hundred reasons that drew him to the rally, 'and they all start with the letter T.' Advocates for tax reform under the coalition Mainers for Tax Fairness gathered at the State House in Augusta to voice their objections to Congress advancing a budget plan that lays the groundwork for extending President Donald Trump's 2017 tax cuts. 'We are here to connect the dots,' said Ryan Tipping, director of campaigns and strategy for the progressive Maine Center for Economic Policy. 'We need to listen to what the cost of that greed is.' Tipping and other speakers pointed to a litany of cuts that have impacted Maine, including the Trump administration firing the entire staff of the Low Income Heating Assistance Program, which tens of thousands of Mainers rely on, and layoff notices issued to 13 employees of the Maine State Library last week, which also led to a temporary closure. They also cautioned about possible implications should the congressional budget plan pass, such as cuts to low-income food assistance and Medicaid, as many say the tax cuts in the plan will not be possible without slashing the program. 'Is my life worth less than tax breaks for billionaires?' asked Gina Morin, a Mainer who relies on Medicaid for prescriptions to treat a chronic disease. Formed in 2020 and launched in 2021, the Mainers for Tax Fairness coalition comprises a number of organizations representing progressive interests across the state, such as Maine Equal Justice, Maine People's Alliance and the Maine Center for Economic Policy, who are also backing bills being considered by the Maine Legislature to restructure the state's tax brackets. 'If the rich paid more taxes, they would still be rich,' Sharon Beaudoin, a retired educator from Auburn who attended the rally, told Maine Morning Star. Last week, the Taxation Committee tabled a number of the tax reform bills that the group supports to wait until a nonpartisan state committee releases its updated state revenue projections next month. The state is currently looking at a projected deficit of $450 million over the next two years. In order to fill the gap, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has proposed some program cuts and a number of largely regressive taxes, which have a greater impact on low earners, but the coalition is alternatively pushing for a model that taxes the wealthy more. Among those bills is LD 1089, sponsored by Rep. Cheryl Golek (D-Harpswell), which would impose an income tax surcharge of 4% on taxable income in excess of $1 million, with the revenue generated going to fund public K-12 education. That $1 million level triggers the 4% surcharge for all tax filing statuses, which is not typical for tax structures in Maine. Therefore, the committee is considering an amendment, which in addition to some technical tweaks would add another level before the 4% surcharge would be triggered. Another bill, LD 229 sponsored by Rep. Ann Matlack (D-Spruce Head), would add new tax brackets and increase the threshold for the state's lower tax brackets. Other bills that the tax rally attendees highlighted include a plan to impose an additional tax of 4% on investment income above certain thresholds and another to increase the real estate transfer tax for sales over $1 million. The coalition also supports legislation that aims to support the average Mainer in other ways, including by expanding the state's version of a child tax credit and increasing funding for family planning services, such routine gynecological and well exams, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and cancer screenings, but not abortions. Anna Kellar, executive director of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, discussed bills that, in light of the budget outlook, lawmakers seem poised to reject that aim to expand the state's clean elections program, which finances campaigns through public funding. 'Unfortunately, when we're in tight budget years like this, funding for clean elections gets pitted against funding for all of the other things that we care about — rental assistance, Medicaid, our schools,' Kellar said. 'But we refuse to accept this idea of scarcity.' Instead, Kellar said the solution is clear: 'making the wealthy pay their fair share.' The rally on Tax Day was also the first stop for the inflatable 'tax the ultra rich' yacht tour, said Lewiston-Auburn resident Rebecca Swanson Conrad, who represents Oxfam 'Sisters on the Planet,' a group working to end global economic injustice. 'I simply do not believe that a billionaire's yacht should come at the expense of everyday Americans,' Swanson Conrad said, to which members of the crowd responded, 'damn right.' However, she added that the work ahead is not convincing those in attendance today but rather, she said, 'those who cannot see how it impacts them, yet.' Swanson Conrad urged people to share the stories told today with neighbors and call on them to press their elected officials to push back on tax cuts for the wealthy, before the group walked to the federal offices of Maine's U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, a Republican, and Angus King, an independent, to begin those calls. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
