Issue Position: Economy

Issue Position

We all know on a personal level how hard the pandemic has hit Maine people and businesses. Parents have spent long hours alternating between their jobs and helping children with remote learning. Businesses have shown great creativity and perseverance. We know too that Mainers working in low-wage jobs and our small businesses have experienced the greatest economic impact.

Maine's economic recovery, how quickly we recover and how completely, depends primarily on how effectively we control the pandemic. And even though we have kept Maine's infection rate among the lowest in the US, our economy is linked to the national and world economies. Soaring rates in other parts of the country and world will hurt Maine even if our rates remain low.

On a state level, I'll advance economic recovery by pursuing three priorities:

1 Control the pandemic and avoid outbreaks of coronavirus in Maine.

2. Support Maine people and businesses until we have a vaccine. Legislatively, we can:

Continue and expand relief, especially for the businesses that are the backbone of Maine's economy

Establish stronger workplace testing, tracing and prevention--essentially make coronavirus protection as routine as wearing a hardhat on a construction site

Create programs to provide income replacement and avoid evictions and foreclosures among those in low-wage jobs

Promote and expand the job training programs created during the last two years, so Mainers can return to work with increased earning capacity

3. Ensure that children can safely return to classrooms and childcare providers have the resources they need to open and operate safely so that parents are able to return to work and support Maine's economic recovery.

Other economic priorities for me:

Property Taxes: Mainers in every corner of our state are worried that high property taxes will force them to sell their homes and leave a community they love. Every Democratic legislator heard this concern and took it to heart. We made sure Maine's state budget provides robust property tax relief, allocating $130 million in property tax relief for Mainers, including seniors, families and small businesses through increased municipal revenue sharing, a higher Homestead Exemption, and expanded Property Tax Fairness Credit. I was glad to vote for a budget that incorporated significant property tax relief.

Protections for Pregnant Workers: Maine should take great pride in our new pregnancy accommodation law; I'm proud of the unanimous support my bill received in the House and Senate. "An Act To Protect Pregnant Workers," LD 666, gives Maine workers the right to reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and related conditions including lactation. Accommodations include longer breakers, temporary changes in work schedules, and provisions for lactation, so long as they are not an undue hardship for the business.

Immigrant Workforce: We achieved a win-win with LD 1685, "An Act to Facilitate Entry of Immigrants into the Workforce." This new law sets up a loan program to help foreign-educated immigrants transfer skills, professional qualifications and credentials for use in obtaining work in Maine. It helps new Mainers get established professionally and transition into Maine's workforce.

Paid Time Off: I supported Paid Time Off legislation in committee and throughout the legislative process because it supports workers and their families, and provides economic security. "An Act To Support Healthy Workplaces And Healthy Families," LD 369, creates a first-in-the-nation paid time off program for employees. Beginning January 1, 2021, employers with more than 10 employees must provide accrued paid time off for up to 40 hours per year. The PTO is a flexible benefit that a worker can use for a sudden illness, a sick family member, or to attend a child's school activity.

Helping Veteran Workers: An Act To Create Veteran-friendly Workplaces, LD 1654, requires employers to allow veterans time off to attend appointments at Veteran Administration facilities. This bill was sponsored by Representative Ben Collings; through amendment I simplified the bill and worked to achieve unanimous committee support. The bill passed by unanimous consent in the House and Senate.

Equal Pay: Maine's Equal Pay Act has been in effect for 40 years, yet Maine women still earn just 82 cents for every dollar a man earns for the same work. Testimony before the Labor Committee showed that the pay gap between men and women starts early--often within a year of joining the workforce, and persist for a lifetime. Maine now has a new tool to fight wage discrimination. "An Act Regarding Pay Equality," LD 278, restricts employers from asking job applicants about salary history. The new law ensures that salary is based on the qualifications of a new hire rather than a past salary that may reflect gender or racial bias. Senator Cathy Breen sponsored this bill, which I helped to amend to improve implementation and enforceability

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