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| "We do not have a money problem in America. We have a values and priorities problem."
Marian Wright Edelman |
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Facts
Petroleum Woes
Energy efficient cars and wind turbines aren't the only new technologies needed to reduce our dependence on oil. Over 6,000 products use petro-chemicals in their manufacturing. These include nearly every product that contains plastic and a whole lot more.
Just for starters - CD's and DVD's, skis, surfboards, golf balls, tennis rackets, heart valves, artificial limbs, condoms, dishwasher detergent, contact lenses, fishing lures, disposable diapers, lipstick, mascara, perfume, hair dye, dental floss, credit cards, crayons, ballpoint pens, eyeglasses, bandages, umbrellas, dentures,hearing aids, aspirin, toothbrushes, tents, footballs, dishes, pillows, asphalt and even - the wheel! |
Figures
$10.9 Billion
First quarter profits of Exxon Mobil - a 22% increase over 2007
$21.7 Million
Exxon's CEO Rex Tillerson's annual salary - an 18% raise from 2007
$7.62 Billion
Dividends paid to Exxon shareholders in 2007
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| Greetings!
Hooray it's spring! Time to turn down the thermostat, open the windows, dig in the dirt, think about strawberries and hope for a profitable tourist season. |
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Food, Glorious Food
The 2008 Farm Bill
 The Maine Center for Economic Policy has worked tirelessly over the last year to ensure that the nutrition elements of the 2008 Farm Bill were adequate to help low-income Americans put food on the table in the face of rising food and fuel prices. The nutrition title includes more than $10 billion over ten years - including $7.8 billion for the Food Stamp Program, $1.26 billion for the Emergency Food Assistance Program and $1 billion for the free fresh fruit and vegetable snack program for schools with high percentages of low-income families. While there were many objections to aspects of the Farm Bill, particularly with subsidy funding for commodities, the nutrition title adequately adjusts for annual inflation for the first time since its inception forty years ago. In Maine, we will receive an extra $4 million for additional benefits for next year and $72 million through 2017 providing a positive impact to 75,000 people. |
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Spotlight: Christopher St. John
 It's hard to separate the Maine Center for Economic Policy from Christopher (Kit) St. John - its founder and driving force for the past fourteen years. Kit's passion for economic justice goes back to his Quaker upbringing, a year teaching in Africa and seventeen years working for Pine Tree Legal, providing free legal services to low-income Maine people. For the past 25 years, Kit has been a practicing Buddhist and meditation teacher.
"I love working with an ever-widening circle of people who are committed to making Maine a fair and more prosperous place. Having so much talent and passion around the table, is what makes our efforts at MECEP so successful."
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In the News 
A selection of press releases, articles and opinion pieces from a variety of media on issues we care about.
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Reports and Publications  In 2003, Maine was the first state to set the bold goal of assuring affordable, quality health care for all Mainers. In this month's Choices, Dr. Robert McAfee explores Maine's journey to meet that goal and why, in tough economic times, we should not alter our progress.
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On the Air
State of the State is our weekly cable television show about issues facing Maine. Check here for programs, airtimes, schedules and podcasts or contact us for a DVD.
Recently aired and upcoming programs:
- Dirigo Health and the 2008 legislative session
- How Section 8 housing serves Maine
- Federal medicaid rule changes
- More efficient jails
- Producing food locally, ending hunger nationally
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Partners in Prosperity  The Maine Center for Economic Policy works in coalition with other organizations in Maine, New England and across the country to achieve its mission. This month we highlight our partnership with Coastal Enterprises, Inc (CEI) and the Home Ownership Protection Coalition to address the foreclosure crisis as it impacts our state. The coalition is represented by non-profit organizations, affordable housing advocates and mortage brokers, to name a few. On May 9th, the Coalition participated in a "teach-in and strategy discussion" with national experts from New America Foundation, AARP, Center for Responsible Lending and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. Using members' expertise, the group generated a list of tools that could be used in Maine. This new coalition has already worked to pass legislation that changes lending practices in the future and now turns to crafting legislation to deal with people currently facing foreclosure. | |
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Sincerely,
Deborah Felder
Maine Center for Economic Policy |
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