After leaving her full-time job of nine years because of serious health issues, Chena Immel said she has spent the last three years struggling to find health insurance she can afford.
During a Mainers for Tax Fairness press conference in Augusta on Thursday, Immel and other advocates called on lawmakers to increase taxes on Maine’s wealthiest residents and corporations to help fund health care, child care, food assistance and other essential services.
“Most of us believe that no one’s health should be determined by how much money they have in the bank,” Immel said. “I’m asking our legislators to do the right thing and pass bills that will increase tax revenue from the wealthiest Mainers so thousands of everyday people, like me, can get the health care we need and deserve.”
Advocates highlighted three bills they said would generate sustainable funding while asking more of those with the greatest ability to pay: LD 1089 would add a 2% tax on income over $1 million to help fund 55% of the state’s share of public education, raising an estimated $75 million annually; LD 1879 would increase the corporate income tax rate on profits over $3.5 million from 8.93% to 10%, generating an estimated $50 million a year; LD 229 would adjust Maine’s income tax brackets to make them more progressive and is projected to raise $90 million annually in its current form.
Ryan Tipping, director of campaigns and strategy at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, explained how Maine must strengthen its own revenue system in response to recent federal policy changes, such as Pres. Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that cut food assistance and health care to fund tax breaks for the ultra wealthy.
“This is a moment for courage, not caution,” Tipping said. “Voters across the political spectrum support asking millionaires and large corporations to pay their fair share. Maine has the resources. We have the public will. What we need now is the political will.”