legislature

At the end of every legislative session, MPA releases a legislative scorecard that evaluates legislators on where they stand not just on the individual issues, but also on their fundamental values, including where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people.

At the end of every legislative session, MPA releases a legislative scorecard that evaluates legislators on where they stand not just on the individual issues, but also on their fundamental values, including where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people.

LD 1120: “An Act To Improve Maine’s Tax Laws” (MPA Supported)

The Maine People’s Alliance continues to maintain an active role in the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine (ACHM), a coalition of environmental and public health groups working to ensure Maine’s children are protected from dangerous chemicals lurking in everyday products. This year, the coalition saw several positive steps forward in the fight to get toxic chemicals out of consumer products, even as Governor LePage fought new efforts to protect children’s health.

The recent introduction by the LePage administration of a rule change in DHHS’s General Assistance program that would cut funding for certain categories of immigrants was a serious blow to families in Maine struggling to build new lives in a new home, but it also provided an opportunity to immigrant groups to stand up as one, together with allies from advocacy organizations, faith leaders and other stakeholders, and fight this rule change together.

The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, set aside federal funds to cover more people through Medicaid (MaineCare) in each state. These funds are meant to cover 100% of the new costs through 2016, and then taper off to a permanent rate of 90% coverage from 2020 forward. The Supreme Court decision in 2012 upheld the law, but struck down the provision that required states to expand their Medicaid programs, making it an opt-in program.

Last year, the legislature struck a bipartisan budget deal that raised some taxes in order to avoid the worst spending cuts from Governor LePage. The governor proposed those cuts in order to pay for his tax breaks that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. That budget deal contained two provisions that require action by the legislature this year: $40 million in money going to towns (revenue sharing) has to be paid for by closing corporate tax loop holes; and about $20 million of savings has to be found through increased government efficiency.

Each election cycle, volunteers with Maine People's Alliance Campaign Vote! PAC evaluate candidates in state and federal races. Those endorsed by MPA Campaign Vote! have shown through their responses to questionnaires and interviews with MPA members that they support the values of community, fairness and investment in the future.