In its latest public hearing, the Education & Cultural Affairs committee heard testimony on LD 515, An Act To Create New Models of Maine Manufacturing Employment and Education.  Sponsored by Rep. Michael Sylvester (D-Portland), this bill would require the STEM council to coordinate the development of STEM employment and higher education opportunities.  This would require public-private partnerships and involve the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System, Adult Education, the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME), and the Loring Development Authority.

Below, please find the Maine State Chamber’s testimony to the Joint Standing  Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs as it was prepared for the public hearing on Monday, March 15, 2021. Gerald F. Petruccelli of the firm Petruccelli, Martin & Haddow in Portland testified on the Chamber's behalf in opposition to three bills: LD 194, An Act To Prohibit Contributions, Expenditures and Participation by Foreign Government-owned Entities To Influence Referenda (EMERGENCY); LD 479, An Act To Ban Foreign Campaign Contributions and Expenditures in Maine Elections; and, LD 641, An Act To Prohibit Contributions, Expenditures and Participation by Foreign Nationals To Influence Referenda (EMERGENCY).

Overtime bill and “for cause” termination proposals slated for next week
 
Two of the most significant labor bills of this session have been scheduled for public hearings before the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing. Both bills would considerably alter the business landscape in Maine by adding significantly to the cost of doing business here and by making the state an outlier to nearly every other state in the country. If either bill or, even worse, both bills pass, the impact on the business environment here would be nothing short of catastrophic. Therefore, we are asking that our members testify in opposition to these critical bills.

On Tuesday, March 16, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce testified before the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation in opposition to three bills that would increase income taxes in the state. Linda Caprara testified on behalf of the Maine State Chamber in strong opposition to LD 495, An Act to Improve Tax Progressivity by Establishing New Top Individual Income Tax Rates; LD 532, An Act to Lower income Taxes for Middle Income Families in Maine; and, LD 570, An Act to Provide for Fairness in the Taxation of Extraordinary and Unearned Income by Establishing a 3 Percent Surcharge on Net Capital Gains and Dividend Income over $250,000 for Taxpayers Filing Single or Married Filing Separate Returns and Over $500,000 for Taxpayers Filing Joint Returns.

This alert is brought to you by the Maine Coalition to Defeat Income Tax Increases. The Maine Coalition to Defeat Income Tax Increases is currently comprised of representatives from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Hospital Association, the Maine Grocers and Food Producers, the Maine Bankers Association, the Maine Auto Dealers Association, the Retail Association of Maine, Maine Tourism, Hospitality Maine, the Maine Aggregate Association, and the Manufacturers Association of Maine. If you are interested in joining this coalition, please contact Linda Caprara at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 106, or by emailing [email protected].

    Late Thursday night, March 11, the supplemental budget bill was finally passed, and is now on Governor Janet Mills’ desk.