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Maine Issues

  • Health CareNFIB will monitor the implementation of the new health care reform.
  • Increasing NFIB's Influence in GovernmentNFIB/Maine is proud to have helped elect small business people, including Governor LePage, to various levels of authority in state government.
  • Economic GrowthDirector David Clough is working with policymakers on various proposals to improve the state's economic growth.
  • Independent ContractorsNFIB/Maine is following legislation that would modify the definition of independent contractor.
  • Health IssuesNFIB/Maine is currently working on several issues that could affect health care and health insurance for small businesses and their workers.
  • Minimum WageNFIB/Maine is actively opposing legislationi that would raise the state's minimum wage.
  • Regulatory ReliefDirector David Clough says that a number of potential chances could provide regulatory relief to small businesses.
  • Business Tax ReliefNFIB/Maine is working with the new Governor and lawmakers on measures to create business tax relief.
  • Sec. 179 Equipment Expensing Tax Penalty in MaineSmall businesses are allowed to write-off (expense) on their federal income tax returns up to $102,000 in equipment purchases; they do not have to depreciate the equipment and pay income taxes on the investments.
  • Dirigo Health Subsidy Tax Issues in MaineThe state's controversial DirigoChoice health insurance program is designed to operate with an annual tax assessment on health insurance. The first assessment began in 2006 and amounts to $43.7 million.
  • Independent Contractors and ABC Test Reform in MaineThe state Bureau of Unemployment Compensation last year began paying particular attention to businesses that use independent contractors and whether the independent contractors are really employees under the state's unemployment insurance law.
  • Minimum Wage Hike in MaineMaine's minimum wage currently stands at $6.50 an hour.
  • Personal Property Tax Relief in MaineThe Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement (BETR) program provides tax relief for only the first 12 years from when machinery and equipment becomes subject to a personal property tax in Maine.
  • 2007 Session Report: Health-Insurance ReformMaine's individual and small-group (up to 50 employees) health-insurance markets are suffering from high costs that make it increasingly difficult to obtain or keep affordable insurance policies.
  • 2007 Session Report: Tax ReformSmall businesses can breathe a sigh of relief now that the Legislature has adjourned. We dodged a number of bullets and were successful in fighting proposals that would have made Maine a tougher state for small-business owners. Below is the first installment of an overview of this year's legislative session: tax reform and tax relief.