Latest news with #MaineWomen'sLobby
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed constitutional amendment to protect paid leave fund one step closer to ballot
Supporters of paid family and medical leave policy rallied on the steps of the Maine State House in June 2023. One month later the policy became law. (Courtesy of Maine Women's Lobby) The entire Maine Legislature is so far taking the recommendations of the Labor Committee to reject significant changes to the state's paid family and medical leave program. On Monday, the Senate voted 20-14 to back a proposal (LD 894) to tweak the program, but rejected other bills by the same margin, including one to exempt agricultural employees from the program and another to suspend remittance for companies that plan to use private plans. That bill now advances to the House of Representatives. Both chambers also followed the lead of the committee by backing a proposal for a constitutional amendment prohibiting the Legislature from using the program funds for any other purpose. Though LD 1221 was passed under the hammer by the House and Senate, it will require a two-thirds vote from each chamber for the next round of enactment votes. If secured, it would then be sent to the voters to ultimately decide on the November 2025 ballot. LD 894, which was also endorsed by the committee, proposes a series of amendments to the current law to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave. Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) introduced the bill on behalf of the Labor Department to make specific refinements to the policy that were noticed during the rulemaking process. 'This is a bill that does the quiet, but essential work of ensuring that Maine's paid family and medical leave program is implemented successfully,' said Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot) on the Senate floor. Though it isn't expected to be available until May 2026, 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. Tipping said LD 894 is the only bill that 'strengthens the program without destabilizing it.' Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec) urged his colleagues to support a different version of the bill that he argued would help small businesses. While Sen. Cameron Reny (D-Lincoln) said while some of those suggestions are reasonable, they seem too substantial to make for a program that hasn't been fully implemented yet. 'Making major structural changes at this stage before a single benefit has been paid and without knowing what's working or not working, it's like you're trying to redesign a plane while we're on the runway,' Reny said. Across the State House, lawmakers rejected bills to repeal the program (LD 406), make it voluntary (LD 1273) and make a series of other structural changes (LD 1333 and LD 1712). SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
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
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maine lawmakers will weigh more than a dozen proposals to modify paid family and medical leave
Supporters of paid family and medical leave policy rallied on the steps of the Maine State House in June 2023. One month later the policy became law. (Courtesy of Maine Women's Lobby) The state's paid family and medical leave program will be center stage later this week as both Republicans and Democrats look to modify the new employee benefit. The Legislature's Labor Committee will hold a public hearing Wednesday afternoon for 13 bills to change the program that has yet to take effect for workers but has prompted some pushback among the business community, which has started making payments into the benefit system. The majority of the proposals seek to repeal or scale back the program, but others are looking to clarify the existing law or make it more accessible for employees. A bill from Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick) is the only one with bipartisan support. LD 1712 hopes to strike a better balance between employee and employer interests by modifying how much an employer is required to contribute, when an employee needs to apply for the benefit and how much is paid out. Though it isn't expected to be available until May 2026, 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. Proponents have described it as a panacea and a way to make certain jobs more accessible, while opponents argued that certain requirements are too burdensome on employers. The Maine Department of Labor finalized the program's rules in December after an outpouring of input from employees and the business community. At the start of the year, Maine employers began withholding a portion of wages to pay into the new paid family and medical leave fund. Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) and Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston), co-sponsors of the original legislation establishing the program, are introducing LD 894 on behalf of the department that would make a series of amendments to the current law to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave. Daughtry said she plans to testify in 'strong and unequivocal' opposition to the bills that want to delay, weaken, exempt or dismantle the program. Rather than waiting to see how Maine's paid family and medical leave system operates and then making adjustments based on experience, Daughtry said the bills represent a 'reversal of course before the program has had a chance to begin.' 'Maine workers deserve a strong benefits program and I'll be fighting to protect it,' she said. There are two nearly identical proposals to repeal the program entirely. In addition, House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) has two bills to make the benefit voluntary for employers and employees (LD 1273) and delay its start until 2027 (LD 1249). All four pieces of legislation have emergency preambles, which means they would take effect immediately if passed by two-thirds of the Legislature. Another emergency proposal from Sen. Russell Black (R-Franklin)would exempt agricultural workers (LD 952). And though not an emergency measure, LD 1400 seeks to exempt certain public school districts and their employees from the benefit program. Rep. Mike Soboleski (R-Philips) has a bill (LD 1169) that would allow employers to get a refund for any premiums paid into the state's plan if they are approved to use a private substitute plan. Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec) is similarly looking to better accommodate employers wishing to use a substitute private plan with LD 1307. Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford) is proposing an amendment to the state constitution with LD 1221 to prohibit the Legislature from using paid family and medical leave program funds for any other purpose. Labor Committee co-chairs Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot) and Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) are introducing LD 575 to remove a provision in the current law that requires leave to be scheduled. While that is meant to prevent undue hardship on an employer, the bill title says its removal would create more equitable access to the program. Rep. Jennifer Poirier (R-Skowhegan) is proposing a series of changes with LD 1333 that would seek to clarify the definition of 'self-employed individual' and prevent employers from having to bargain with unions over the employee's share of the program, among other tweaks. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Support grows for Maine student-athlete at center of transgender debate
Feb. 25—A group of 30 state and national organizations has banded together to condemn last week's social media posts by some elected officials that drew unwanted attention to a transgender student-athlete in Maine. The debate that started online soon became the impetus for a showdown between Gov. Janet Mills and President Donald Trump, after which the Trump administration threatened to withhold education funding and launched a series of investigations. The coalition of organizations said in a joint statement that as the debate inevitably continues, lawmakers should leave children out of it. "Our organizations stand united in declaring that adults should never harass, 'out', or instigate attacks on minors," the organizations wrote Tuesday. "All children deserve our safety and protection, so they can feel safe at home, at school, and in their communities." The list of organizations includes EqualityMaine, the Maine Women's Lobby, the Maine Medical Association, the Maine Council of Churches and many more. Gia Drew, executive director of EqualityMaine, said posts by Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, that included photos of a transgender athlete at Greely High School who competed in a track meet last week were "inexcusable." "Using pictures of kids for your own political gains, I think that goes against what most Mainers think," Drew said. "But it's not just about one person or one athlete. All young people who might be trans or nonbinary or don't fit some mold, I worry about how they are going to navigate their lives." Libby did not respond to an interview request Tuesday but has defended her posts and resisted requests that she take them down. When asked last week if her posts could have effectively targeted the athlete and put them in harm's way, Libby did not answer and instead said the state's policy is putting girls at risk. "It's not fair to Maine female athletes to have to compete against male athletes," she said. "Frankly, it's outrageous and that's the focus here." The Press Herald is not identifying the student-athlete who has become the latest target in a highly charged national debate, but members of the School Administrative District 51 community have been similarly dismayed by the attention. "It's really troubling for people to watch a student be placed in the center of a debate like that," said Tig Filson, chair of the Cumberland Town Council. "And when you have that amplified at a national level, featuring voices far removed from our community, it's really painful for people." Filson described her community, and especially the school community, as tight-knit and said the biggest reaction from townspeople has been compassion for the student and family that has been outed by conservative media. "People want to make sure they know they are supported and feel safe," she said. Filson also spoke about the matter at the Town Council meeting Monday evening. Andrea Berry, who chairs the select board in North Yarmouth, which is part of SAD 51, said adults engaging in this debate online and elsewhere are overlooking the impact on students. "There is so much hate and prejudice that's being bandied around by members of local community, but much more by people at the state and federal government level," Berry said. "I wish people understood that kids are feeling this, and it's really affecting young people's ability to feel safe, feel seen and feel valued." Jeffrey Porter, the district's superintendent, said late Tuesday that he's been buoyed by the support for students in the community. Prior to Monday's return to school, he worked with police to increase their presence on campus. Thankfully, he said, things have been uneventful. "There has also been some inappropriate feedback (mostly from outside the community) that has been disheartening, especially considering they're from grown adults who should know better," Porter said. "Despite the unwanted national attention, we are trying to move on and create as normal of a school week as possible for our students." FOCUS ON STUDENTS MISPLACED Even community members who have spoken out against transgender athletes being allowed to compete say the focus on specific students is regrettable. Nancy Storey, a Cumberland resident and former executive director of the Maine State Golf Association, has posted numerous times on Facebook since last week and also shared a letter she wrote to state officials. She doesn't agree with the state's policy but also doesn't want individual students to be thrust into the debate. Storey said in an interview that she feels strongly that biological males should not compete against girls, but she doesn't blame the school or the Maine Principals' Association for allowing it. Both, she said, are following state law, but Storey thinks that law didn't account for some of the challenges that have arisen. "As to why I feel as strongly as I do, I remember the days when, if girls wanted to compete, they had to play with the boys," she said. "My first rec basketball was with boys because there was no girls team. I was an eighth grade girl playing against sixth grade boys, and they were still stronger than me." This isn't the first time conservative lawmakers in Maine have used an underage athlete to make a political point about transgender rights. Last year, many drew attention to a cross-country runner, although that didn't reach the White House. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Support grows for student-athlete at center of transgender debate
Feb. 25—A group of 30 state and national organizations have banded together to condemn last week's social media posts by some elected officials that drew unwanted attention to a transgender student-athlete in Maine. The debate that started online quickly became the impetus for a showdown between Gov. Janet Mills and President Donald Trump, after which the Trump Administration threatened to withhold education funding and launched a series of investigations. The coalition of organizations said in a joint statement that as the debate inevitably continues, lawmakers should leave children out of it. "Our organizations stand united in declaring that adults should never harass, 'out', or instigate attacks on minors," the organizations wrote Tuesday. "All children deserve our safety and protection, so they can feel safe at home, at school, and in their communities." The list of organizations includes EqualityMaine, the Maine Women's Lobby, the Maine Medical Association, the Maine Council of Churches, and many more. Gia Drew, executive director of EqualityMaine, said posts by Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, that included pictures and names of a transgender athlete who competed in a track meet last week were "inexcusable." Libby has defended her posts and resisted requests that she take them down. "Using pictures of kids for your own political gains, I think that goes against what most Mainers think," Drew said. "But it's not just about one person or one athlete. All young people who might be trans or nonbinary or don't fit some mold, I worry about how they are going to navigate their lives." The Press Herald is not identifying the student athlete who has become the latest target in a highly charged national debate, but members of the community where she lives have been similarly dismayed by the attention. "It's really troubling for people to watch a student be placed in the center of a debate like that," said Tig Filson, chair of the Cumberland town council. "And when you have that amplified at a national level, featuring voices far removed from our community, it's really painful for people." Filson described her community, and especially the school community, as tightknit and the biggest reaction from townspeople has been compassion for the student and family that has been outed by conservative media. "People want to make sure they know they are supported and feel safe," she said. Filson also addressed the matter at town council meeting on Monday evening. Andrea Berry, who chairs the select board in North Yarmouth, which is part of the same school district, said adults engaging in this debate online and elsewhere are overlooking the impact on students. "There is so much hate and prejudice that's being bandied around by members of local community, but much more by people at the state and federal government level," she said. "I wish people understood that kids are feeling this, and it's really affecting young people's ability to feel safe, feel seen and feel valued." Even community members who have spoken out against transgender athletes being allowed to compete say the focus on specific students is regrettable. Nancy Storey, a Cumberland resident and former executive director of the Maine State Golf Association, has posted numerous times on Facebook since last week and also shared a letter she wrote to state officials. She doesn't agree with the state's policy, but also doesn't want individual students to be thrust into the debate. Storey said in an interview she feels strongly that biological males should not compete against girls, but she doesn't blame the school or the Maine Principals Association for allowing it. Both, she said, are following state law, but Storey thinks that law didn't account for some of the challenges that have arisen. "As to why I feel as strongly as I do, I remember the days when, if girls wanted to compete, they had to play with the boys," she said. "My first rec basketball was with boys because there was no girls team. I was an 8th grade girl playing against 6th grade boys and they were still stronger than me." This isn't the first time conservative lawmakers in Maine have used an underage athlete to make a political point about transgender rights. Last year, many drew attention to a cross country runner, although that didn't reach the White House. Copy the Story Link
