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Keeping up with the Legislature and Congress this time of year is like keeping up with the grass. Don't bother putting the lawn mower away, next up - tax reform and health care reform.
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We Have a Budget
 We can be glad we're not in California! The Governor and the Legislature have approved a two year budget for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years including supplemental spending through June 30th. The budget provides over $500 million less than the current biennium. There were disproportionate cuts to state employees and residential services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Overall the budget represents a bipartisan attempt to maintain services to the people of Maine in difficult times. It passed with more than the two-thirds majority needed.
An overview of the budget from the Office of the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.
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Spotlight: Tourists
 Tourism directly and indirectly generates one in five dollars of sales throughout Maine's economy and supports the equivalent of one in six Maine jobs. For this reason, the Maine Center for Economic Policy has made tourism and livable wage jobs in the tourism sector an important part of our sustainable development focus. This summer under the direction of economist and board member, David Vail, we are studying three town clusters in Piscataquis, Washington and Franklin counties. Our goal is to find the best strategies and public investments for Maine's less traveled, but equally beautiful areas. Hopefully, in the long run, we can help spread prosperity to all of Maine.
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Reports and Publications 
Policy analysts Kurt Wise and Garrett Martin with assistance from Nicholas Johnson of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities have turned their attention to the state budget and tax reform efforts in the legislature.
Choices: Securing our future during an economic downturn
Choices: Now is the time for tax reform. Can LD1088 deliver?
We are partnering with Community Catalyst and Maine Equal Justice to insure Medicaid is part of the health care reform discussion. Please read the following letter and if your organization can sign on, please call Ana Hicks at 626-7058
Medicaid Principles for Health Care Reform
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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.
State of the State is now available on Time-Warner cable in nearly every country in Maine. Recently aired and upcoming programs:
- Protecting Maine's Safety Net
- Managing Health Care Benefits for Public Employees
- Hunger on the Rise in Maine
- The State Budget
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Our Partners: Maine People's Alliance
The Maine People's Alliance Rising Tide Dinner is a  celebration of local heroes and progressive victories. This year's dinner is June 5th at Woodford's Congregational Church in Portland and features singer/songwriter Noel Paul Stookey. Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary fame has made his home in Maine since 1970. Pictured above Rachel Talbot Ross and Deborah Felder, 2007 honorees.
The Maine Center for Economic Policy has partnered with MPA on many issues for many years. We depend on their grassroots organizing expertise to bring the people's voice to the policy making table.
More about MPA and the Rising Tide Dinner
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