AUGUSTA – The Maine Center for Economic Policy is sponsoring a conference that will provide an overview of Maine’s tax and budget issues over the next two years. The conference is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, at the Augusta Elks Club.

Gov. John Baldacci will open the conference, followed by a presentation of the 2006-07 state budget by Rebecca Wyke, commissioner of administration and financial services. Respondents are Sen. Michael Brennan of Portland, and Sen. Paul Davis of Sangerville.

Health care, particularly Dirigo Health, will be discussed by Paul Saucier, of the Muskie School Institute for Health Policy at the University of Southern Maine. Respondents are Sen. Peter Mills of Cornville and Trish Riley, of the Governor’s Office on Health Policy and Finance.

Over lunch, House Speaker John Richardson of Brunswick will offer his views, followed by Education Commissioner Susan Gendron who will speak on “Equal Access to Lifelong Learning.” Respondents are Rep. Glenn Cummings, House majority leader, and Sen. Carol Weston, Senate minority assistant leader.

Michael Allen of Maine Revenue Services will discuss how revenues and taxes are distributed across income levels, followed by Professor Charles Colgan of the University of Southern Maine speaking on “Tax Relief or Tax Reform?”

To register, see information on the Web at www.mecep.org. There is a fee.

documents/MECEPforum011505.pdf