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House Republican Leader Proposes Doubling Earned Income Tax Credit

Maine House Republican Leader Ken Fredette is proposing doubling the earned income tax credit that benefits low-income Mainers.

Maine currently offers a state earned income tax credit equal to 5 percent of the federal tax credit. According to the most recent data available, from 2015, the cost of the credit to the state was more than $10 million.

Fredette’s bill would double that, and pay for it with surplus federal funds.

“Look for the money for the earned income tax credit coming out of [Temporary Assistance for Needy Families] funds. I think that is something that might be able to be used. I think we need to explore that — I think that is something we have done in the past,” he says.

Fredette says his bill is aimed at helping the working poor, and encouraging them to stay off of welfare.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.