Small Business Funding

THE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD. CAMERON LOBLEY IS AT THE SPEECH AND WILL HAVE AN UPDATE TONIGHT AT ELEVEN. MANY MAINERS WILL BEGIN CONTRIBUTING TO THE STATE’S NEW PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PROGRAM STARTING NEXT MONTH…BEFORE BENEFITS BEGIN IN MAY 2026. BUT AS CATEMCCUSKER EXPLAINS, A REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKER IS HOPING TO STOP IT — AS BUSINESS OWNERS WORRY ABOUT THE IMPACTS. WE’RE HEARING NEW CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATES PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PROGRAM – AS ONE STATE LAWMAKER IS HOPING TO REPEAL IT. THE NEW PROGRAM WILL ALLOW FOR 12 WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE FOR MAINE EMPLOYEES. STARTING NEXT MONTH – BOTH EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS WILL BEGIN CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROGRAM’S FUND BEFORE BENEFITS BEGIN IN MAY 2026….BUT A REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKER IS HOPING TO REPEAL IT. 10:20:46:17 – 10:21:03:09 “MAINERS RIGHT NOW ARE STRUGGLING WITH HIGH GROCERY COSTS, HIGH ELECTRICITY BILLS, HIGH HEATING HOME COSTS, AND HIGH GAS PRICES, AND ADDING ANOTHER BENEFIT AND TAKING ANOTHER CUT FROM THEIR PAYCHECKS WEEKLY, WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE BENEFITS FOR ANOTHER YEAR I THINK IS IRRESPONSIBLE.” MELINDA SMALL – A BUSINESS OWNER IN LEWISTON – SAYS SHE WILL HAVE TO OVERSTAFF DUE TO THE NEW REQUIREMENTS. 10:30:01:11 – 10:30:16:25 “IT’S GONNA HAVE AN EFFECT ON BUSINESSES, IT’S GOING TO HAVE AN AFFECT ON CONSUMERS, WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH HOW THEY’RE BEING TREATED, AND WITH THE SHORT STAFF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE GOING ON, IT’S GOING TO MAKE IT WORSE.” AND THE MAIN CONCERN FROM OUR STATE’S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THAT EMPLOYERS WILL HAVE TO PAY INTO A PROGRAM THAT THEY WON’T BE USING – THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025. 10:37:42:25 – 10:37:56:05 “WE BELIEVE THAT THE PAYROLL TAX SHOULD NOT BE TO TAX SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED TO ANY ENTITY THAT IS SEEKING A PRIVATE PLAN, AND IT REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THOSE COMPANIES, THOSE EMPLOYEES, THAT ARE NOT UTILIZING A PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PROGRAM” BUT THE DEMOCRATIC STATE LAWMAKER WHO SPONSORED ORIGINAL BILL POINTS TO THE PROGRAMS BENEFITS – AND THE YEARS OF EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. 00:01:44:21 – 00:01:57:15 “I DO FEEL THAT IT’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST WORKED BILLS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS EVER SEEN, AND ONE THAT REALLY WAS CREATED IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.” BUTTED 00:02:08:23 – 00:02:19:14 “IF A REPEAL WERE TO PASS, MAINERS WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO BENEFITS TO HELP THEM TO CARE FOR A CHILD, AN AGING PARENT, OR THEMSELVES IF THEY BECOME ILL.” REPRESENTATIVE MORRIS LIKELY FACES AN UPHILL BATTLE IN HIS EFFORT TO REPEAL THE PROGRAM – AS DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKE