Maine is on the verge of becoming the first state to pause new data center construction as concerns grow over energy use and environmental impact. The bill is now awaiting action from Gov. Janet Mills, who had pushed for an exception for a proposed project in Jay. mainebeacon.com/first-in-the...
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined Graham Platner for a rally in Portland over the weekend to encourage voters to back Platner and the movement he is building. The rally avoided direct attacks on Gov. Janet Mills and instead focused on Platner’s platform and support base.
Central Maine Power is back with another rate hike request — one that could add at least $216 a year to the average household’s bill, even as Mainers already pay some of the highest electricity prices in the country.
There’s a lot packed into Maine’s newly passed supplemental budget, Opinion Columnist @strim.bsky.social writes, but one piece rises above the rest: lawmakers finally moved to increase taxes on the highest earners, reversing years of policy that favored the wealthy.
A new tax plan from Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner calls for a 5% tax on billionaire wealth, along with higher taxes on capital gains and corporations, as part of a broader effort to address inequality and invest in public priorities like health care, education, and Social Security.
As Americans file their taxes, Maine is advancing policies aimed at narrowing the wealth gap, including a new tax on income over a million dollars. The move comes as federal tax policy continues to deliver tax breaks to billionaires while cutting crucial programs.
Opponents of a proposed Maine ballot initiative say it could do far more than impact school sports — warning it may require schools to segregate facilities based on sex assigned at birth, create new legal risks, and strain already limited resources.
PODCAST: Cate and Esther break down the fallout from Donald Trump’s war crime threats and a fragile ceasefire, plus what Maine’s new budget means — from a 2% millionaire surtax to child care, rental aid, and paid family leave. Listen now!
Maine lawmakers passed significant funding for housing in the state's supplemental budget, including for affordable housing, homeless shelters, and programs designed to help renters stay in their homes.
Maine lawmakers have approved a new state budget that includes a significant shift in tax policy: a 2% surtax on incomes over $1 million, expected to raise about $160 million over the next two years. Click below to read more!
A Maine judge has delivered a win for tenants, upholding Portland’s rent control law and reinforcing the power of tenant unions to hold landlords accountable. @strim.bsky.social explains how the ruling affirms the city’s ability to keep housing affordable and how other leaders should follow suit.
After a January enforcement surge that disrupted Maine's communities and local economies, a new poll finds most Mainers disapprove of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The survey also revealed growing support for policies that allow undocumented immigrants to stay and gain legal status.
A new poll shows Graham Platner with a 33-point lead over Gov. Janet Mills in Maine’s Democratic Senate primary. Platner also leads Sen. Susan Collins in a potential general election matchup, while Mills’ unfavorable ratings have climbed following a wave of attack ads.
The Trump administration is moving forward with a nearly $1 billion payout to cancel offshore wind projects, even as energy demand and costs continue to rise.
Climate change is already costing Mainers, and lawmakers want to know just how much. A newly passed bill would study the financial toll of greenhouse gas emissions and could eventually pave the way for making major polluters help pay.
A new tax on Maine’s wealthiest residents is advancing through the State House after the legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee voted to include a “millionaire’s tax” in the state budget. The proposal would generate up to $150 million for the state.
The political talking point that high taxes drive people out of Maine doesn’t hold up. New IRS migration data actually shows the opposite: Maine is gaining residents from lower-tax states, including neighboring New Hampshire, and even attracting higher-income households.
Susan Collins has long benefited from her public reputation as a moderate; but this past weekend, she solidified her support for MAGA-backed Paul LePage, as well as leaned into extremist rhetoric that critics warn the far right has been using to vilify and incite violence against Democrats.
Mainers can now begin applying for benefits under the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program, marking a major step toward launching the system designed to support workers during some of life’s most challenging (and joyful) moments. Click below to learn more and how to apply!
Mainers are struggling under the weight of rising health care costs, and hospital prices are a major driver. But now, lawmakers are advancing LD 2196, a bill that could rein in those costs and save taxpayers and consumers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Mail delays may seem like a small change — but for many Americans, the stakes are much higher, writes economic expert Sarah Anderson. Trump admin policies at the USPS mean mail may no longer be postmarked the day it’s collected, potentially affecting everything from ballots to bill payments.
In Maine’s mobile home parks, residents are facing steep rent increases, poor conditions, and little oversight from out-of-state corporate owners. This week on the podcast, two residents speaking out about what that means for their homes, communities and Maine overall. Listen now!
As housing costs continue to climb, renters and advocates are calling on lawmakers to fully funding Maine’s Eviction Prevention Program, which has helped 1,280 households stay housed since it launched in 2024.
The halls of the State House were packed Thursday as Mainers made their case directly to lawmakers: tax the wealthy and invest in the essential public programs people rely on. The lobby day centered on proposals to fund child care, education and housing by asking more of those at the very top.
A new ballot initiative targeting trans kids isn't really about policy — it’s a political distraction designed to shift attention away from economic issues, writes Opinion columnist @strim.bsky.social. Click the link below to read Ethan's full piece!
A bill to increase taxes on Maine’s highest incomes while funding relief for others is moving forward in the Legislature. LD 229 would create new tax brackets and generate an estimated $77.6 million annually for property tax relief, expanded credits and a sales tax exemption on diapers.
Rising electricity costs are hitting Mainers hard, and a new federal proposal aims to bring relief. The “Energy Bills Relief Act,” backed by House Democrats, would restore clean energy tax credits, expand weatherization programs and accelerate solar and wind projects. Read more below!
Sen. Susan Collins sided with Senate Republicans over the weekend to block funding for TSA agents; meanwhile, Trump is using the DHS shutdown as an excuse to send ICE into airports. Lawmakers warn that ICE agents are untrained to do the jobs of TSA and will likely cause more disruption and chaos.
The Trump admin is threatening to withhold federal Medicaid funding from states across the country, and Maine could be next. Federal officials have already moved to block more than $2 billion in Medicaid payments to Minnesota — an unprecedented action that punishes patients rather than fraud.
