AUGUSTA, Maine -- As negotiations over a COVID-19 relief package continue in Washington, advocates for struggling Mainers say Congress can't afford to wait.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, along with a group of GOP senators, made a $618 billion counterproposal to President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, and claimed what Biden proposed isn't needed so soon after the December stimulus bill.

But a new Quinnipiac poll found 68% of Americans support the Biden plan, with just 24% opposed.

Mario Moretto, communications director for the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said people still are experiencing really elevated levels of hardship.

"What Mainers need now more than anything is for Congress to act and act quickly," Moretto asserted. "To act boldly, to not only relieve that hardship, but to build some foundation to have a strong and equitable recovery."

Moretto pointed to data which show job growth in Maine slowing down, as well as more than 40,000 residents collecting unemployment.

Nearly 30% of Maine adults are having trouble paying household expenses, nearly 20% are behind on rent or housing costs and 6% live in food-insecure households.

Moretto called the December stimulus "a critical down payment," but said there are still key gaps that will require a big investment.

He contended Collins' proposal is lacking in a number of ways, from lower unemployment insurance benefits to no increase in the minimum wage and no expansion of low-income tax-credits, which he noted have been shown to have a positive impact on reducing poverty.

"It doesn't include rental assistance for families that are struggling to keep their homes," Moretto emphasized. "It doesn't provide paid family and medical leave for people who may need to take time off of work because of the virus."

Moretto maintained even on issues with bipartisan agreement, such as the need to provide more funding for schools, the GOP offer is too low.

He urged members of Congress to pass the president's proposal as quickly as possible.


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A new bill aims to further reduce investments in fossil fuels by Oregon's Public Employee Retirement System.

The Pause Act would impose a five-year ban on new investments by the system in private fossil-fuel funds. Supporters believe this move will help lower emissions and keep wealth in Oregon communities.

Andrew Bogrand, volunteer communications director for the advocacy group Divest Oregon, helped draft the bill. The group found the system's fossil fuel investments have underperformed the market by $4 billion to $10 billion over the past decade.

"Private equity has taken advantage, in our view, of public pensions, and this would allow Treasury staff the time and space they need to kind of course correct," Bogrand explained.

Last year, former treasurer Tobias Read, now Secretary of State, introduced a plan to reduce the system's investments in fossil fuels by 60% by 2035, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. Bogrand noted the Pause Act aligns with that plan.

Oregon's Public Employee Retirement System covers pensions for more than 415,000 public employees across schools, local governments and 900 agencies. Divest Oregon said 60% of the system's funds are private investments, which is almost double the average U.S. pension fund.

Elizabeth Steiner, Oregon's newly-sworn in treasurer, manages the system's investments, totaling more than $100 billion. Steiner said moving away from fossil fuels is not just about reducing emissions, it is smart financially.

"The data are really clear that carbon-intensive investments are a risky proposition at this point," Steiner observed. "At some point in the not too distant future, they will not be profitable."

Steiner added it is too soon to say if she can support the Pause Act, but she is having productive conversations with Divest Oregon.


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Florida has been a key battleground in the national immigration debate, with past legislation banning sanctuary cities and requiring companies to use E-Verify to confirm employees' immigration status.

As lawmakers prepare to gather in Tallahassee later this month for a special legislative session on immigration, community advocates are raising concerns about the use of state resources. Gov. Ron DeSantis called for the session to align Florida's policies with President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming immigration initiatives.

Renata Bozzetto, deputy director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, criticized the move as a publicity stunt, saying it is unfortunate the governor is using taxpayer dollars to garner national attention.

"Instead of focusing on the priorities of Floridians, instead of focusing on the very high cost of living in our state and fixing problems that really bother and affect families in the state of Florida, he is trying to take on the federal government's job," Bozzetto contended.

DeSantis, a staunch Trump ally, has scheduled a special session for Jan. 27 to align with federal efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. He proposed mandatory enrollment in the 287(g) program, which partners local law enforcement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to identify and remove noncitizens.

The session is scheduled just weeks before the regular legislative session begins in March. Bozzetto believes the governor's push is politically motivated and distracts legislators from pressing local issues.

"Assess within their districts, what are their priorities so they're listening to community, they're listening to Floridians, what should be the priority and the agenda for March?" Bozzetto asked. "And yet they're going to be wasting their time in Tallahassee because of this reckless call."

The Republican governor warned he is prepared to suspend elected officials who fail to comply with the new immigration mandates, accusing them of "neglecting their duties." Florida's legislative leaders have pushed back on DeSantis' call for a special session on immigration, deeming it "premature" without specific federal guidance from the incoming Trump administration.

Ohio is poised to play a key role in a $20 billion investment announced by President-elect Donald Trump, with plans to establish data centers across the Midwest.

John Highland, director of public service for the City of Canton, is among the local leaders already expressing interest in what he said could be a transformative project.

"We are kind of open and available," Highland pointed out. "I would be willing to talk to anyone about that possibility with the city if we can make it work."

Canton's openness reflects the excitement among Ohio leaders about the economic potential of the initiative. However, as with any large-scale project, experts caution about the need to manage resource demands and ensure equitable benefits for local communities.

In a recent speech, Trump framed the investment as a step toward keeping America at the forefront of advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence.

"The investment will support massive new data centers across the Midwest and also keep America on the cutting edge of technology and artificial intelligences," Trump said. "The first phase of the project will be in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana."

For Ohioans, the announcement could mean new jobs and infrastructure development but it also raises questions about long-term sustainability and local impacts on resources like energy and water.

Hussein Sajwani, founder of DAMAC Properties, shared his excitement about expanding his company's operations in the U.S., citing the nation's pro-business environment.

"We're planning to invest $20 billion in data centers catering for the AI and cloud business for the hyperscalers," Sajwani announced. "We're very, very excited now with his leadership."

With Ohio positioned as a key beneficiary of this massive investment, the state could see significant economic growth in the coming years.


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