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"The subjects of every state ought to contribute toward the support of the government...in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state."
Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776
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Facts
Taxes come in three flavors: regressive, proportional and progressive.
A regressive tax has mid-and-low-income families paying a larger share of their incomes in taxes than the rich. A proportional tax takes the same percentage of income from everyone no matter how much people earn. A progressive tax is one in which upper-income families pay a larger share of their incomes in tax than do those with lower incomes. |
Figures
5,500
The number of sub-prime loans predicted to foreclose in Maine
$300 million
Cumulative loss in Maine property values
$3 million
Loss of Maine property tax revenue
source: Majority Staff, Senate Joint Economic committee, third quarter 2007 through 2009. | |
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| Greetings!
It's February and we're busy with tax and budget issues! Whether it's the federal stimulus package or state budget shortfalls, we're weighing in with sound fiscal advice and analysis. Please ask your friends and neighbors to sign up for MECEP Matters and stay abreast of the issues you care about. |
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Neither Rain or Snow....  If January's blizzard kept you away from our conference, you can revisit many of the presentations at our website. There was a flurry of opinions and plenty of pre- and post-conference press. We'll continue to keep you informed as education, corrections, healthcare and natural resources face streamlining opponents and proponents.
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Spotlight: Nicole Witherbee
This week MECEP's federal policy analyst, Nicole Witherbee,  received her doctorate from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis.
"Because one-third of our state spending comes from the federal government, I feel the work I do at the Maine Center has a real and immediate impact on the every day lives of people in Maine. Experiences from my personal and professional life have led to a passion for public policy and working for people who might not otherwise have a place at the table."
Congratulations, Dr. Witherbee! |
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In the News 
A selection of press releases, articles and opinion pieces from a variety of media sources covering issues we care about.
2/6/08 Bangor Daily News
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Reports and Publications  MECEP's new fiscal
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On the Air
State of the State is our weekly cable television show about the issues facing Maine. Check here for programs, airtimes, schedules and podcasts.
On the air in February:
- Conversations with Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud,
- A look at the mortgage crisis,
- A conversation with the directors of the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York,
- A discussion on how to evaluate Maine's economic development programs with Catherine Renault, Maine Office of Innovation and Ed Cervone, Maine Development Foundation.
State of the State can also air your 30- or 60-second public service announcement during commercial breaks. For more information or to request a DVD of any current or past program, contact dfelder@mecep.org.
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Partners in Prosperity The Maine Center for Economic Policy works in coalition with organizations in Maine, New England and across the country to achieve our mission. This month we highlight our work with the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative.
 The State Fiscal Analysis Initiative (SFAI) was launched in 1993 in eleven states. Maine and the Maine Center for Economic Policy was one of them. Since then the SFAI network has grown to 29 states with additional state-level organizations expected to join the network in coming years.
SFAI organizations share a commitment to rigorous policy analysis, responsible budget and tax policies and a particular focus on the needs of low- and moderate-income families. The SFAI network is coordinated by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington-based research organization and strategic policy insitutue that works on a range of state and federal issues. | |
Sincerely,
Deborah Felder
Maine Center for Economic Policy |
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