The latest edition of our Impact newsletter is now available! |
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Weekly edition of IMPACT, a publication of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce | January 28, 2021 | |||||||
View this edition online | View an archived edition online | ||||||
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Taxation committee work session on the supplemental budget ends quickly Republicans move to adopt full conformity to business proposals, issue ultimately tabled by Democrats The Joint Standing Committee on Taxation in their work session of Thursday, January 28, voted to table the tax conformity issue following a motion by Rep. Ted Kryzak to adopt fully conformity to the federal government on LD 42, An Act Making Certain Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government (Emergency). In total, the work session lasted nearly 25 minutes. |
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Tax Conformity & the Payroll Protection Program: We need your help! This week, the Joint Standing Committees on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and Taxation held a series of public hearings on LD 42, An Act Making Certain Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government (Emergency). To assist you in discussing this issue with your legislators, we have compiled the following talking points. |
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Governor Mills: “Let’s solve the PPP issue” Governor asks departments to identify potential Federal funding that may be able to maintain balanced budget & adopt Federal tax treatment of PPP loans Late in the day on January 27, Governor Janet Mills announced in a press release that she has asked her departments to explore whether federal funding may exist to help Maine provide the same beneficial tax treatment to Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds that the federal government has. |
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The Maine State Chamber’s annual Leadership Summit provides opportunities for board members and invited guests to connect with state government commissioners and Maine legislative leadership, including committee chairs and key committee members. The Maine State Chamber takes pride in providing opportunities for Maine’s business and government leaders to engage in honest, open dialogue about top public policy issues. This year, due to COVID-19 and the need to comply with social distancing guidelines, we will be offering our program virtually. |
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With improving public health metrics, Mills administration ends early business closing time Later this afternoon, Governor Janet Mills announced that she will end the 9:00 p.m. early closing time for businesses, effective Monday, February 1, 2021. The decision is the result of Maine’s improving public health metrics, including a decrease in Maine’s positivity rate and new COVID-19 cases per million. |
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Senior Leaders of Tomorrow Development Program: “Leaders don’t create followers; they create more leaders.” – Tom Peters The Maine State Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Sojourn Partners, LLC to bring you a program that will help you prepare your organization’s leaders of tomorrow. |
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Maine’s higher education community working to increase value and training quality workforce The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is continuing its efforts to enhance Maine’s processes for education and workforce development. During the January 26 briefings before the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business (IDEA), attendees listened to how Maine’s community colleges, as well as public and private universities, are working to increase value and deliver quality individuals to our workforce. |
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Governor Mills announces actions to advance floating offshore wind research array in Gulf of Maine In letter to fishing industry, Governor Mills affirms Maine’s commitment to the climate, energy and economic benefits of floating offshore wind, proposes moratorium on new wind projects in more heavily fished state waters On January 25, Governor Janet Mills today proposed a series of actions to advance the nation’s first floating offshore wind research array in federal waters and to protect Maine’s more heavily fished state waters. In a letter to Maine’s licensed commercial fishermen (PDF), Governor Mills announced that she will propose for the Legislature’s approval a 10-year moratorium on new offshore wind projects in waters managed by the state and that she has directed the Governor’s Energy Office to review offshore wind regulations and again opened channels and opportunities for meaningful input from fishermen and marine industries siting the proposed research array. |
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Federal Update: President Biden issues more Executive Orders, takes further action to address the COVID-19 crisis; Senators Collins and King, and Rep. Golden meet with new Administration on proposed stimulus package; Rep. Pingree to Chair Appropriations Subcommittee Since taking office last Wednesday, President Biden has issued dozens of Executive Orders. In addition to the orders outlined in Impact last week, the President has taken further actions aimed at fighting COVID-19. |
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The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the February 1 launch of The Maine Take with Dana Connors, a weekly public affairs and current events livestream program hosted by Maine State Chamber President and CEO Dana Connors. U.S. Senator Susan Collins will be Connors’ special guest on the inaugural episode, livestreaming this Monday, February 1 at 3:00 p.m. The Maine Take will livestream every Monday thereafter from 3:00 p.m. to approximately 3:45 p.m. on the Maine State Chamber’s website and on YouTube. |
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The Bottom Line podcast celebrates 40th episode
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Meet the Commissioners event provides forum to share priorities and insights with Maine’s business leaders
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Maine State Chamber promotes release of new report illustrating how early childhood programs’ scarcity undermines Maine’s rural communities Prominent community leaders, educators, and a parent of twin preschoolers release a film and report discussing the challenges created by the lack of high-quality early education and care in rural Maine Community leaders from business including the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, law enforcement and retired military rhelped eleased a new report entitled “Early Childhood Programs’ Scarcity Undermines Maine's Rural Communities.” The report highlights the disproportionate challenges that rural children face in accessing high-quality early programs and other supports. A short film accompanied the report release and included views of this pressing problem from early educators, a superintendent, and a parent of twin 4-year-old boys. |
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Join the Maine Chamber of Commerce’s Education Foundation and the national Science is US campaign on Wed., February 10 beginning at 1:00 p.m. for a series of virtual discussions on STEM Workforce Development in Maine. This fourth session in the STEM series will focus on The Future of STEM Jobs and Innovation in Maine. |
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