'The balance of power is skewed' : Mainers believe it's time to close corporate tax loopholes

Our elected officials are facing tough questions about how we balance the state budget as we begin our economic recovery.

One option our government should consider is closing corporate tax loopholes.

And working Mainers agree. We called hundreds of local working families to ask them their thoughts on corporate tax loopholes. Many told us how important it is we close these loopholes to give working families and small businesses a fair shake.

Susan from East Boothbay told us why she thinks it’s important to close these loopholes.

“Closing corporate tax loopholes is important because the corporations in our country get far more benefits economically than the average citizen,” said Susan.

There are lots of big multinational corporations that do business in Maine, but don’t pay their fair share for the use of our roads, our hard workers, and our resources. Some of these corporations even use a loophole that rewards them for hiding their profits overseas.

“I believe that the balance of power is skewed, and we as individual citizens need to speak up and change things,” said Susan.

Eliminating these loopholes could generate up to $5,000,000 for the state, and we won’t be forced to cut funding for essential services like schools, health care and public safety.

As we rebuild our economy, we must ensure that hardworking Mainers are prioritized and corporations pay their fair share.

Leadership In Action: Gov. Janet Mills expands rental relief and eviction protections

Today, courts across Maine reopen, and landlords can begin the eviction process for the thousands of Mainers who have struggled to pay rent during the pandemic.

Many Mainers are still struggling financially, and, with extra $600 in federal unemployment benefits ending, evictions put our working families and communities at risk.

The health and safety of our communities relies on the ability for every Mainer to shelter in a safe and secure place, so it’s crucial that every person has access to housing. That’s why we’re grateful that Governor Janet Mills has doubled rental assistance through the MaineHousing program, and expanded eviction protections for Mainers who struggled to meet rent related to the pandemic.

By dedicating $5 million of the Coronavirus Relief Fund to MaineHousing, Mills expanded the rental relief assistance program, which will now provide $1,000 for Mainers who qualify. Mills also signed an executive order that strengthens penalties for landlords who attempt to evict tenants by illegal means (like turning off utilities), and has expanded timeframes for the eviction process for renters.

Thank you, Governor Mills for protecting renters during this crisis, and ensuring that Mainers remain housed.

Every Mainer should have access to healthcare

As Maine’s economy partially reopens and Mainers return to the workplace, businesses and working families are adjusting to our “new normal.” But there is still more work to be done to ensure the health of Mainers and the longevity of our economic recovery.

We know that both our communities and workplaces thrive when families are healthy. To stop the spread of this virus and ensure our economy stays afloat, we need to make sure Maine’s hardworking families have access to comprehensive and affordable health care.

According to a recent study by FamiliesUSA, there are 106,000 uninsured adults in Maine. Between February and May alone, 14,000 laid-off Mainers lost their health insurance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Without access to affordable coverage or treatment, our families, communities and economy are at risk. Maine cannot recover from this virus if our working families cannot afford to take care of themselves or their loved ones.

When the Legislature returns to session, they must immediately take action to increase the accessibility and affordability of health care.

Add your name to our petition to send a message to the Legislature: Every Mainer should have access to healthcare.