Have you applied for your rent refund yet? Yes, that's right -- not only could you get federal and state tax refunds, but if you rented an apartment in 2008 (they're one fiscal cycle behind and you'll need your 2008 tax return information) and the rent you paid was more than 20 percent of your income, you could get some money back from the state's "Circuit Breaker Program" -- up to $2000! Fill out the online form here

You may have seen Lance Tapley's story in this week's Portland Phoenix - with four ideas on how Maine can fix its economic problems by increasing government spending - and by funding those increases with tax policies that will make Maine a fairer place to live, work, and do business.

And while he cites nationally renowned and award-winning economists (some of whom are also referred to in this story with a similar bent, published by the Seattle Weekly), the idea that any federal stimulus package could be hamstrung (at least in part) by state budget-slashing is gaining momentum.

With Governor Baldacci imposing $10s of millions in budget reductions, and the legislature scrambling to figure out what agencies and programs can stand another round of severe cuts, everyone's trying to make sure they keep their piece of the pie. Not only that, but everyone thinks they have the solution, the answers, the best way to climb out of this dreadful abyss