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"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Declaration of Independence
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Facts
Public Option
In recent polls, 76% of Americans say they want a choice between a public and private health insurance plan. 85% want major health care reform. The
reason for a public option is simple; without the
government as competition, the private sector has little incentive to
improve. Nonprofit co-ops will not have the scale or the authority to bring down costs. Insurers and pharmaceutical companies understand this and are thus opposing a public option. Source: Wall Street Journal |
Figures
Health Care
428% Increase in profits for the ten largest insurance companies from 2000-2007
120%
Average increase in health insurance premiums from 1999-2007
29%
Average growth in wages for 1999-2007
77%
Health insurance market in Maine controlled by Anthem Blue Cross
Sources: American Medical Association, Kaiser Family Foundation
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| Greetings!
This 4th of July, I'm haunted by the pictures from the election in Iran. As a young media student in the 60's, it was the television coverage of Vietnam that altered forever how politics, war and revolution were carried out. Today it's cell phones and twitter. I always believed communication technology - rather than the technology of war - would keep freedom alive. I still do. As Michael Jackson said, we are the world.
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Tax Reform - An Important Compromise
After years of effort, Augusta finally delivered a significant tax
reform package. The package achieves two important
objectives. First, it will reduce the total amount of taxes paid by 90% of Mainers when income taxes and sales taxes are tallied up. Second, it will smooth the peaks and valleys
in our State revenue stream, making the amount we collect in taxes more
consistent from year to year.
All of these reforms were the result of
compromises on the part of both Democrats and Republicans. Neither conservatives
nor progressives are happy with every part of the new system. As a total
package, however, the reforms will put money in the pockets of most Mainers and
will make Maine's
state budget less vulnerable to ups and downs in the economy.
Tax Reform Package Overview
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Spotlight: Our Founding Principles
 Maine became a state in 1820, forty-four years after the Declaration of Independence. It was 174 years after that when the Maine Center for Economic Policy was founded. Nevertheless, we try follow our countries founding principles. Liberty and equality achieved through shared prosperity; life that is enhanced by affordable health care for all; fair taxes and budgets that represent the people's will and ability to pay; the pursuit of happiness based on adequate food, shelter, educational opportunity, environmental stewardship and livable wage jobs.
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Reports and Publications 
The early American colonists rejected the idea of divine leadership, kings, queens or a perpetual aristocracy, favoring instead equality of opportunity. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, Sr. have repeatedly said that the estate tax is good for America because it upholds our system of democracy based on merit rather than inherited wealth. In this month's Choices, federal budget analyst, Nicole Witherbee explores the upcoming Congressional debate on extending current estate tax levels into the future.
Choices: Weakening the Estate Tax: Putting our Future Prosperity at Risk
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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:
- Broadband in Maine
- Health Care for Health Care Workers
- The Tax Reform Package
- Climate Change
- National Health Reform
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Our Partners: Maine Affordable Housing Coalition
The Maine Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC) includes developers, community action agencies, public
housing authorities, investors, service providers, advocates and
others committed to
ensuring that all Mainers are adequately and affordably housed.
In this legislative session,
MAHC mounted a successful campaign for the passage of a $30 million bond for
the construction and rehabilitation of highly efficient, affordable housing.
The bond represents the state's largest single investment in affordable housing
in state history. The campaign brought together construction, energy, labor,
housing and anti-poverty interests and received
broad, bipartisan support from the legislature.
The Maine Affordable Housing Coalition
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Sincerely,
Deborah Felder
Maine Center for Economic Policy |
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