Committee backs ag worker minimum wage bill that mirrors Mills' proposal last year
Lawmakers have endorsed a bill this session that would grant farmworkers in Maine the right to minimum wage and has the potential to finally make it off the governor's desk.
The Legislature's Labor Committee voted 6-1 with multiple members absent to endorse LD 589, which would give agricultural workers the right to state minimum wage and mirrors the proposal Gov. Janet Mills put forward last session.
Before committee members broke to caucus ahead of the vote, Senate co-chair Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot) said, 'This is the closest we have come and I hope we're in a good place here to finally pass a basic minimum wage for agricultural workers.'
There were two bills before the committee this session seeking to guarantee farmworkers the right to state minimum wage, since they are currently excluded from the section of law that provides a wage floor and overtime protections. Legally, they are only entitled to the $7.25 federal minimum wage; however, many farm owners say they pay workers even more than Maine's minimum wage of $14.65 an hour.
Earlier this session, the Labor Committee also supported a bill that would allow agricultural employees to talk about wages, working conditions and other employment matters with other employees or the employer. That bill has received initial approval from the Senate, but was tabled in the House of Representatives Tuesday, pending a vote.
Farmworker rights have been an ongoing discussion in the state as Mills has vetoed multiple pieces of legislation over her tenure seeking to secure labor protections, including her own bill last session. She said she could no longer support that proposal after the committee reworked the bill to allow farmworkers to bring their own private action against employers for violations.
House co-chair Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) said Tuesday that as a self-described 'idealist,' the legislation doesn't go as far as she would have liked, though ultimately supported the bill.
'I realize in legislation that we have to crawl before we can walk sometimes, but we've been crawling for an awful long time,' Roeder said.
When introducing LD 357 this session, Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) said he was appalled by the governor's actions last year. His bill was identical to the one the Labor Committee supported last year, but this time bolstered with a Republican as the lead sponsor.
Though the committee voted unanimously not to support Bennett's bill, Tipping thanked him for following the committee's work last session by introducing this measure.
Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Cumberland) originally took a different approach from Bennett with LD 589, which initially removed language that exempted farmworkers from current statute, rather than create a new section of law. However, this was a sticking point for the agricultural industry who worried that any future changes to that section of law could overlook the unique qualities of farming.
After amending LD 589 to address those concerns, the proposals had just two key differences. The legislation from Talbot Ross does not include a private right of action, leaving it up to the Department of Labor and the Office of the Maine Attorney General to handle any wage violations.
Additionally, the amended version of LD 589 includes language clarifying that the changes that would result from this legislation could not be construed to mean that agricultural workers were losing any existing rights.
Tipping highlighted this language before casting his vote in support of the bill, saying that he interprets it to mean that farmworkers won't lose their right to bring private action against an employer for other violations, such as not being paid any wages.
Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said that based on conversations she has had with the governor, Mills seems to be on board with the amended version of LD 589.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
5 Warren Buffett Tips Celebrities Use To Build Lasting Wealth
If you're aiming to grow your wealth to extraordinary levels, it's wise to take a page from Warren Buffett's playbook. As one of the richest individuals in the world and a legendary investor, Buffett has mastered the art of smart financial decision-making. And his numbers speak for themselves. Buffett is currently estimated to have a net worth of about $141.5 billion — an amount you don't accumulate by accident. Read Next: Learn More: Because of this, it's no surprise that celebrities and high-net-worth individuals often turn to Buffett's insights to build and preserve their fortunes. From A-list actors and elite athletes to influential CEOs, many listen closely when the Oracle of Omaha shares his wisdom. His advice spans far beyond stock picks, touching on everything from nurturing relationships and honoring commitments to investing in companies you truly believe in. If you are looking to make better financial choices and pad your bank account as much as the rich and famous have, it's time to tune in to Buffett's timeless principles. Strong Relationships Build Wealth Bill Gates and Warren Buffett don't just share a spot on the list of the world's wealthiest individuals, but they also share a decades-long friendship. One of the most meaningful lessons Gates says he's learned from the legendary investor is the value of relationships. 'Warren Buffett talked about how, in the end, it's how your friends truly think of you and how strong those friendships are that really matters,' Gates once shared. This isn't the first time that the co-founder of Microsoft, with an estimated net worth of $116.8 billion, has spoken warmly about Buffett's relationship advice. Reflecting on their history, Gates has said, 'I've learned many things from Warren over the last 25 years, but maybe the most important is what friendship is all about.' For both Gates and Buffett, building wealth doesn't have to come at the expense of meaningful connections. Consider This: 'A Brand Is a Promise' A-list actress and Grammy-winning singer Jennifer Lopez revealed that her fragrance, Promise, was directly inspired by advice from Warren Buffett. The name stems from one of Buffett's most well-known branding philosophies: 'A brand is a promise.' Lopez embraced that idea wholeheartedly, building a powerful personal brand that has helped her amass an estimated net worth of $400 million. Buffett has shared this concept of 'keeping promises' at several Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meetings, emphasizing the importance of trust and consistency in business. Lopez said the message deeply resonated with her. 'He said a brand is a promise. And I just feel like everything that I put out into the world has to be a promise,' she explained. 'We have to have promises with ourselves. It's really the foundation that keeps us going. It really made me think about life in a bigger way.' Invest for the Long Term World-renowned alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin is among the many high-profile individuals who closely follow Warren Buffett's investment philosophy. Known for prioritizing long-term value over short-term market trends, Buffett consistently advises investors to put their money into businesses they genuinely believe in. In the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Report, Buffett emphasized this approach: 'Our goal in both forms of ownership is to make meaningful investments in businesses with both long-lasting favorable economic characteristics and trustworthy managers. 'Please note particularly that we own publicly traded stocks based on our expectations about their long-term business performance, not because we view them as vehicles for adroit purchases and sales. That point is crucial: Charlie [Munger] and I are not stock pickers; we are business pickers.' Buffett's strategy highlights the importance of patience, trust and belief in a company's fundamentals, principles that resonate with Shiffrin and many others seeking financial growth. Protect Your Customers and Protect Your Brand During an interview with Barron's Editor-at-Large Andy Serwer, American Express CEO Stephen Squeri shared a critical piece of advice he received from Warren Buffett. 'Warren is our largest investor, and I talk to him quite a bit,' Squeri said. 'And during the pandemic… his advice to me [was] to 'protect two things. Protect your customers and protect your brand.'' It was this advice that shaped how Squeri led the company during a time of economic uncertainty. While many companies were scaling back, Buffett's words encouraged American Express to lean in. 'It would have been pretty easy to pull back even more,' explained Squeri, 'but we invested [in] more value propositions for our customers. We invested in our colleagues. And we invested in our brand.' The results speak for themselves. American Express emerged stronger, with profits continuing to soar. Final Take To GO: Apply Buffett's Principles To Build Lasting Wealth You may not have the fortune of a celebrity, A-list athlete or legendary investor, but that doesn't mean you can't start building your own. By following timeless advice from experts like Buffett — focusing on long-term investments, strong relationships and brand integrity — you can lay the foundation for lasting financial success. It may take time, but with discipline and the right mindset, your wealth-building journey can begin today. Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks I'm a Retired Boomer: 6 Bills I Canceled This Year That Were a Waste of Money This article originally appeared on 5 Warren Buffett Tips Celebrities Use To Build Lasting Wealth Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
This Future Retiree Plans To Downsize His $1M Home To Cover Health Insurance — Is It A Smart Move?
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. As retirement approaches, one of the biggest unknowns many Americans face is how to pay for health insurance before Medicare kicks in at age 65. One future retiree recently shared his strategy online: sell his $1 million home, downsize to a smaller, less expensive property, and use the equity to bridge the gap until he qualifies for Medicare. It's a move some have considered — but is it a good idea? Trading Square Footage for Subsidies Posting to the r/retirement subreddit, the 60-year-old homeowner explained that he and his wife plan to retire in a few years. Their house is paid off and valued at around $1 million. With grown children and 3,000 square feet of space, they feel ready to downsize. The plan is to sell the current home and buy a $300,000 to $400,000 replacement. Don't Miss: Be part of the breakthrough that could replace plastic as we know it— $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. The equity from the sale would be used for living expenses, with a specific goal: keeping their Modified Adjusted Gross Income low enough to qualify for Affordable Care Act subsidies. This would help offset the cost of health insurance until they become eligible for Medicare at 65. Several Reddit users responded with encouragement — and caution. The Cost of Healthcare Before Medicare Healthcare expenses can be a major burden for early retirees. According to the Milliman 2024 Retiree Health Cost Index, someone retiring at 60 instead of 65 can expect to spend 56% to 89% more on healthcare over their lifetime, depending on the plan they choose. The earlier you retire, the more years you must cover before Medicare, often at a higher out-of-pocket cost. Some Reddit users suggested exploring the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA. This program allows individuals to continue their employer's health insurance for up to 18 months. One retiree said it cost them $750 a month — cheaper than ACA options at the time. But for someone retiring at 60, COBRA wouldn't cover the full five-year gap. Trending: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — Risks of Relying on Home Equity Selling a home to unlock cash might offer flexibility — but it comes with trade-offs. Once the home is sold, that equity is no longer growing, and there's no guarantee the market will stay favorable if the retiree needs to sell quickly. Another consideration: capital gains tax. The Reddit poster said they bought the home for $490,000. If they sell it for $1 million, they'll be close to the $500,000 capital gains exemption for married couples. But with selling costs and home improvements factored in, they may still owe tax if the gain exceeds the limit. Reddit users also warned about downsizing regret. Some retirees have moved, only to later wish they had stayed in place — and found it difficult or expensive to reverse at the Bigger Picture While downsizing could reduce living costs, relying too heavily on that equity could be risky. With only 1–2 years of living expenses in a Roth IRA, the couple's ability to weather changes — like a drop in home values or rising insurance premiums — may be limited. That's why several commenters emphasized the importance of professional advice. As one noted, income, savings, and expenses are all different — and managing them requires careful planning. By exploring multiple options, testing assumptions, and working with a financial planner, future retirees like this one can build a plan that works — without putting their long-term stability at risk. Read Next: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to . Image: Shutterstock This article This Future Retiree Plans To Downsize His $1M Home To Cover Health Insurance — Is It A Smart Move? originally appeared on
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stock Market Today: Morning Movers; Vanguard Warns On U.S. Growth; Intel Job Cuts
Stock Market Today: Morning Movers; Vanguard Warns On U.S. Growth; Intel Job Cuts originally appeared on TheStreet. The market is now open and all three major indexes are just above water. The S&P 500, seeking its fifth consecutive record close today, is up 12.45 points (+0.2%) to 6,375.80. As in recent days, it's joined by the Nasdaq, which is up 33.3 points (+0.16%) to 21,091.26. The Russell 2000 and Dow are up 0.13% and 0.11% apiece. Morning Earnings Reactions Investors are parsing some of the morning's earnings reports. Charred-ter Despite meeting analyst expectations, Charter Communications was hammered this morning, among the worst performers on the markets. It's down 17% at the moment. The results have also pulled at Liberty Broadband () () , which is expected to merge with Charter, per filings. Prior to this morning's report, Charter and Comcast announced a partnership with T-Mobile () , which will see the cell-service provider operate the two companies' fast-growing mobile cellular business plans. Boston Beer Party Young people might be swearing off alcohol, but it was no matter for Boston Beer, () which saw revenue rise 1.5% in the quarter, even as its shipment volume fell 0.8% year-over-year. The stock rose 9.3% on the news. Meanwhile, the company did take a $5 million impairment charge as a result of "write-offs of equipment at third-party and company-owned breweries." HCA, AON, PSX and CNC report Aside from these big movers, here's the work from today's largest A.M. reports: Hospital operator HCA Healthcare () lifted its outlook as revenue and profit beat expectations; it's down 0.6% this morning. Insurer Aon plc () saw double-digit revenue growth and a rebound in quarter-over-quarter diluted EPS; it's up 5.6% in early trade. Oil refiner Phillips 66 () topped estimates as its margin per barrel rose 12.4% year-over-year, moved by geopolitical uncertainty; it's down 0.8%. Private insurer Centene () reported its first quarterly loss in 13 years but the stock is 2.2%.higher. Friday is generally a quieter day for earnings, but per Nasdaq, we're getting 47 reports today; almost all of which will be before the market opens today. Among the largest are hospital operator HCA Healthcare () , insurer Aon () , and Charter Communications () , the communications-services parent of Spectrum. In addition, investors can also expect some illuminative reports from government services contractor Booz Allen Hamilton () and car retailer AutoNation () . Vanguard Warns on Growth A month ago, passive-investing goliath Vanguard published findings from its Capital Markets Model, which showed that commodities, global equities, and U.S. value stocks could deliver the most compelling returns over the next decade. It even made some fixed-income investments look compelling compared with U.S. growth, U.S. REITs, and emerging-market equities. Yesterday, in a rerunning of its markets-model forecast, it eased up on some of its U.S. optimism, pointing to stretched valuations in U.S. equities. Notably, U.S. growth stocks are now seen growing at a rate barely beating inflation expectations. Per Vanguard, here's the 50th percentile range of returns for the next 10 years: Over the longer run Vanguard sees domestic returns being a bit stronger. Over 30 years, investors can expect returns to be multiple percentage points higher on an annualized basis. Vanguard notes that the outlook of the VCMM could change over time based on market conditions. The model's perspective can be ascribed in large part to its assessment of the market environment and valuations, which we'll touch on later today. Uh, Everything All Right, Intel? Intel () might have beaten analyst expectations and notched a small gain after its quarterly results, but investors weren't in love with the story that new CEO Lip-Bu Tan laid out on the company's 5 p.m. EDT Thursday earnings call. After reporting a fifth consecutive quarter of losses — this time, $2.9 billion — the company said it would cut 25,000 employees and reduce its foundry investments. The stock pared its early gains on the news. With that, Intel says it planned "to end the year with a core workforce of about 75,000 employees." That will still be substantially more than foundry competitors like Taiwan Semiconductor () , as well as chip competitors Advanced Micro Devices () and Nvidia () . Still, it'd be the fewest number of employees since fiscal 2009. That would mean that 45% of the company's workforce has either been dismissed or has abandoned ship since 2022, eliminating substantially all the job additions it made as it pursued its foundry expansion. Stock Market Today: Morning Movers; Vanguard Warns On U.S. Growth; Intel Job Cuts first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 25, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared. Sign in to access your portfolio
