Today, the Maine Small Business Coalition, in partnership with the U.S. Public Research Interest Group, released a new report that reveals that Maine loses $58 million in revenue a year due to offshore tax dodging. Many of America's wealthiest individuals and largest corporations use tax loopholes to shift profits made in America to offshore tax havens, where they pay little to no taxes.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has placed consideration of a political spending disclosure rule on its agenda for 2013. This rule would be a significant step forward in increasing transparency and leveling the playing field in national elections. Unfortunately, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has come out in opposition to the SEC's proposed rule.

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce also signed on to the national Chamber's letter of opposition to this common-sense rule - the only state chamber to do so.

House and Senate Democrats yesterday announced a set of priorities focused on improving the economy and supporting the middle class.

We're glad to see that one of these priorities is fixing the rate hike bill, Public Law 90, and that House Speaker Mark Eves cited the rate hikes experienced by Maine Small Business Coalition members in his remarks as a problem that must be addressed.

Fixing Maine's insurance system means taking three immediate steps:

Maine Small Business Coalition Opposes Insurance Company Influence in Local Election

Insurance premiums for small businesses have jumped in the Bangor area following the passage of a state insurance deregulation bill last year. As the election approaches, local business owners and the Maine Small Business Coalition are concerned about these premium increases and angry that Anthem Insurance has spent so much money in the Bangor and Hermon Senate Race in what seems to be an attempt to protect their rate hikes.