Non-partisan Mainers want working families and small businesses to be top priority during recovery

As our state begins to reopen, it's important that Mainers have a say in what the road to recovery looks like.

That’s why Mainers for Working Families partnered with other organizations to conduct a 10-state poll, in an effort to understand voters’ priorities during the recovery process. The poll did not accept answers from respondents who identify strongly with any party, in order to focus on the non-partisan, “unheard middle” voters.

According to the poll, non-partisan voters want to see our state government put working families and small businesses first – particularly in providing accessible and affordable health care, and other benefit programs.

Here are some of the results:

• 90% support low-interest loans for small businesses.

• 84% support limiting what drug companies can charge for prescriptions.

• 81% support protecting patients from having to pay the costs not covered by their insurance for out-of-network doctors.

• 75% support requiring employers to provide paid sick days.

• 72% support a paid family and medical leave program.

Maine’s “unheard middle” voters want our hard-working families and small businesses to be top priority for our state government, and they want to ensure that they are set up to succeed for years to come.

You can read more about the poll here.

Leadership in Action: Gov. Janet Mills joins call for unrestricted aid to state & local governments

Maine has been hit hard by COVID-19. One in seven Maine workers has recently filed an unemployment claim, and many businesses will remain shuttered for quite some time.

With the economic fallout expected to worsen, enormous strain is placed on our state and local governments, who are working tirelessly to ensure that every Mainer is safe and healthy during this time.

That’s why we’re grateful that Governor Janet Mills has joined the bipartisan call for Congress to secure an additional $500 billion in unrestricted aid to states and localities in the next COVID relief package.

As revenues decline because of loss of income and reduced spending, state and local governments will face serious financial constraints. This could lead to budget cuts that depress the economy, just as they did in 2008. While the first three federal bills included many vital resources, more aid is needed to protect workers and prepare the economy for a smooth recovery when this crisis is over.

Thank you, Governor Mills for standing up for Maine’s working families, and working to safeguard our state and local governments both now and when this pandemic is behind us!

Safeguarding our state and local governments

With 30 percent of our economy shuttered and one in ten workers filing for unemployment, the COVID-19 pandemic is not only threatening the health of our communities, but our financial security.

As a result, it’s putting enormous strain on our state and local governments, who are at the forefront of ensuring that every Mainer is safe and healthy during this time.

That’s why Mainers for Working Families signed on to a letter urging the federal government to pass $500 billion in unrestricted aid to states, territories, and local governments. We’re proud to join 180 organizations, including other Maine organizations and representatives, in calling on Congress to act immediately.

The letter also urges Congress to:

• Adopt the payroll guarantee to “deep freeze” local economies and protect workers and businesses during an economic shutdown.

• Make additional investments in unemployment insurance (UI) by including triggers that allow both the $600 per week in Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and expanded eligibility to phase out only when economic conditions warrant.

• Expanded eligibility for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to immigrant workers left out of UI and new labor market entrants.

• Disburse another direct cash payment and make it available to all households regardless of tax filing or immigration status.

• Provide full funding for testing, treatment, and front-line workers’ personal protective equipment.

• Include strong worker protections.

While the first three federal bills included many vital resources, more aid is needed to safeguard our state and local governments during this crisis. We urge Congress to provide this aid, and lay the groundwork for strong social safety nets for working families, now and beyond this pandemic.