Maine moved one step closer to becoming the thirteenth state to create its own paid family and medical leave program on Thursday, when the Maine Legislature’s Labor and Housing Committee voted 8-5 to advance a bill that is a top priority of legislative Democrats. No Republicans on the committee supported the measure. The bill will
As lawmakers consider a proposal to establish a paid family and medical leave policy, advocates in Maine and another New England state are warning about the potential pitfalls of creating a privatized program, in which benefit claims are administered by an outside company rather than the state. Maine lawmakers introduced a paid leave
One hundred small business owners have signed onto a letter calling for the Maine State Legislature to pass a paid family and medical leave policy that they say would help them retain workers and compete with larger companies. “As a small business owner, I value my employees and I try to support them when they
Beacon editor Lauren McCauley contributed reporting to this piece. After a years-long campaign, lawmakers on Thursday unveiled a proposal to create a paid family and medical leave program, drawing support from Mainers across the state who argued that it is long past time for such a policy. The bill, LD 1964, sponsored by Assistant Senate