Contact: Brian Lee (Mathieson) | 305-965-2744
AUGUSTA – A new law sponsored by Rep. Kristi Mathieson, D-Kittery, to provide a lifeline to essential federal workers impacted by a government shutdown went into effect last week. The law, which was enacted by the Legislature earlier this year and signed by Gov. Janet Mills, is especially timely, as the federal government shut down at midnight on Oct. 1 for the first time in nearly seven years.
LD 874 provides eligible federal employees in Maine access to voluntary, no-interest loans during any partial or full government shutdown lasting more than seven consecutive days. Eligible employees can receive up to three loans during a shutdown. Each loan can equal the worker’s monthly take-home pay (after taxes), minus any unemployment benefits, with a maximum of $6,000 per loan.
“When the federal government shuts down due to political brinksmanship, it’s not politicians that have to face real consequences, it’s working families,” said Mathieson. “Federal employees in Maine are the backbone of many essential and specialized services – from maintaining public safety and transportation infrastructure to building Navy submarines in Kittery. Government shutdowns mean that these workers will continue to provide these services, but might not get paid for a long time. This bill will provide workers with a lifeline to be able to support themselves and their families until the shutdown is resolved.”
The Department of Defense Conference of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the Northern New England Carpenters Locals 349 and 352, Local 3073 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the Maine Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989, the Maine Credit Union League, the Maine Bankers Association and many others testified in support of this legislation at its public hearing in April.
The program is administered by the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) and is voluntary for financial institutions to participate in.
Mathieson is serving her third term in the Maine House representing Kittery and is House chair of the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Mathieson) | 305-965-2744