Jacob Posik

Jacob Posik, of Turner, is the director of communications at Maine Policy Institute and the editor of The Maine Wire. He formerly served as a policy analyst at Maine Policy. Posik can be reached at jposik@mainepolicy.org.

Coronavirus

Teachers don’t need to be vaccinated for Maine schools to reopen safely

Governor Janet Mills updated Maine’s statewide vaccination plan Wednesday to make teachers and...
Citizens' Initiative

Bangor area residents launch ballot initiative to reform governor’s emergency powers

A new citizens initiative was approved for circulation in Maine on January 25,...
Inside Augusta

After trying to oust Maine Capitol Police chief, Senate Democrats defend free speech on social media

More than 70 elected Maine Democrats, including 13 of 21 Democratic senators, signed...
National

Watch Secretary of State Bellows’ uncomfortable exchange with Congressman Steil on HR 1

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows testified before Congress on Thursday in support...
Taxes

After a difficult 2020, some lawmakers want to raise taxes on struggling Mainers

The last year has been challenging for most people in the country and...
Commentary

Which New England state will be first to enact Right to Work?

New Hampshire has a lot going for it compared to the rest of...
Energy & Environment

Baker’s climate official resigns after controversial statements: ‘Turn the screws’ on ‘seniors on fixed income’

David Ismay, the Undersecretary for Climate Change within Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s Executive...
Inside Augusta

Mills unveils new compromise on PPP issue, tax conformity

Maine Governor Janet Mills issued a press release Tuesday outlining a proposed path...
Election Center

Effort to expand ranked-choice in Maine voting receives hearing this week

Advocates of ranked-choice voting again seek to expand the use of the voting...
Inside Augusta

Fake concept drafts don’t belong in a virtual legislative session

Much of the Maine Legislature’s regular business looks different this year. The Clerk...
Education

School choice in Maine amid the pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic and our collective response to it has changed (for better...
Taxes

After closing Maine businesses, Mills wants them to pay state taxes on their PPP loans

Governor Janet Mills wants to balance her bloated budget on the backs of...
Inside Augusta

New letter defends Chief Gauvin’s free speech rights

After Maine Democrats sent a letter to the state’s top public safety official...
Commentary

Threats of violence and thoughtcrimes: Selective speech standards at the State House

Maine’s Capitol Police Chief Russ Gauvin is on trial in the court of...
Labor

After a tough year for restaurants, Biden wants to eliminate the tip credit

It’s no secret that restaurants have been particularly impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and...
Coronavirus

Maine to prioritize vulnerable populations in vaccine rollout

Since the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug...
Inside Augusta

First bills of the 130th Legislature released for public consumption

Last week our team offered a preview of the First Session of the...
Inside Augusta

The good, the bad and the ugly bills that could be debated this session

Just before the holidays, the legislature released a list of all legislator and...
Inside Augusta

Lawmakers submit more than a dozen bill requests to reform emergency executive power

After nearly a year with one person unilaterally dictating public policy in Maine,...
Transportation

Gov. Mills keeps Maine out of regional gas tax scheme, at least for now

Last week, the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) released its final Memorandum of Understanding...
Education

Pandemic reveals parents want more choice in their child’s education

The pandemic has revealed something many of us have believed for a long...
Economy

One-in-four small businesses expect to close if economic conditions don’t improve

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Research Center released a new survey...
Inside Augusta

Some lawmakers propose reining in Mills’ emergency power, assuming control of virus response

Some members of the Maine Legislature are speaking out against Gov. Janet Mills’...
Inside Augusta

Maine not out of the woods despite rosier revenue projections

Though Maine’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly taken a toll on...
Coronavirus

Brunswick father says social isolation drove his son to kill himself

Maine is mourning the loss of Spencer Smith, a 16-year-old sophomore at Brunswick...
Inside Augusta

Bellows wastes $74,150 in taxpayer funds to take over as secretary of state

It’s the start of a new term of the Maine Legislature, which means...
Transportation

Maine’s transportation infrastructure needs work

The Reason Foundation’s 25th Annual Highway Report highlights something Mainers of all political...
Commentary

What to be thankful for in this dreadful year of 2020

If you like individual liberty, economic freedom and self-determination, 2020 probably wasn’t the...
Commentary

AG Frey warns Mainers about enforcement of Gov. Mills’ unscientific mask mandate

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey used his bully pulpit this week to remind...
Commentary

Gov. Mills suggests Mainers call the cops on violators of coronavirus mandates

Last week, Governor Janet Mills joined Maine Public to shed crocodile tears for...
Labor

Portland businesses worried about city’s new minimum wage ordinance

Portland voters approved Question A on their local ballots last week, an initiative...
Inside Augusta

What issues will Maine Democrats resurrect in 2021?

With Maine’s 2020 statewide general election behind us, it’s time to look ahead...
Coronavirus

Mainers acknowledge lack of science behind Mills’ new mask mandate

When Gov. Janet Mills updated her mask mandate last week to require Mainers...
Coronavirus

Wearing a mask alone in public defies science

Science, science science. It’s all about the science. Is it really, though? From...
Commentary

California hates the holidays

Thinking about getting together with family for the holiday season? Think again. Just...
Election Center

In-person voting remains a safe, secure way to vote

COVID-19 has changed a lot about our lives in 2020, including how we...
Coronavirus

What Governor Mills can learn from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem

Maine Gov. Janet Mills joined Maine CDC director Dr. Nirav Shah on Wednesday...
Election Center

Maine’s high court denies effort to keep counting absentee ballots after Election Day

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled late last week that absentee ballots must...
Transportation

Deadline coming on Maine’s decision to participate in new gas tax scheme

Maine Policy Institute and a coalition of 17 other organizations sent letters to...
Economy

Maine finally sends support to small businesses months after their forced closure

Better late than never, I suppose. Maine finally began disbursing grants to struggling...
Election Center

Press Herald editorial board opposes local initiatives advanced by Democratic Socialists

The Portland Press Herald’s editorial board isn’t buying what the Southern Maine Democratic...
Fiscal

Governor Mills among the most fiscally irresponsible governors in America

Last week, the Cato Institute released the newest edition of its Fiscal Policy...
Coronavirus

Thousands of doctors and scientists agree: Lockdowns are making public health matters worse

Three leading epidemiologists gathered in Massachusetts on Sunday to sign the Great Barrington...
Economy

New survey shows 1 in 5 small businesses anticipate layoffs in next 6 months

The National Federation of Independent Business Research Center released a new nationwide survey...
Biennial Budget

One-time gimmicks can’t fix Maine’s long-term budget woes

Maine Gov. Janet Mills recently signed a curtailment order to keep the state’s...
Labor

Pro-union state senator opposed her brewery employees’ unionization efforts

Rising Tide Brewing, a popular brewery located in Portland, faces a national labor...
Election Center

Maine’s high court rules RCV must be used in presidential election

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled Tuesday that ranked-choice voting must be used...
Education

Maine school choice lawsuit replicated in New Hampshire, Vermont

A pair of lawsuits that mirror a Maine-based legal challenge (currently pending in...
Labor

How will Maine’s struggling small businesses survive the next unfunded mandate?

The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) issued a press release Monday raising...
Coronavirus

Shutdown Stories: Aquaboggan

Aquaboggan in Saco was forced to close in late August after receiving a...
Education

Mills administration and MPA conclude football, volleyball cannot be played this fall

Bowing to pressure from the Mills administration, the Maine Principals’ Association announced Thursday...
Inside Augusta

Governor Mills moves the goalposts on high school sports

After telling the public that the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) would have the...
Election Center

SoS Dunlap asks Maine’s high court to strike RCV people’s veto from November ballot

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap is challenging a decision issued last week by...
In Depth

How will the University of Maine System enforce its new social distancing rules?

Do you remember this spring when we were told to stay home to...
Education

Mills administration appears destined to halt high school sports this fall

The Maine Principals’ Association’s (MPA) Interscholastic Management Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to...
In Depth

Survey shows 1 in 5 small businesses will close soon if economic conditions do not improve

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released a new survey Monday of...
Election Center

Court overturns SoS Dunlap’s decision to keep RCV veto off November ballot

A judge ruled late Monday that the Maine Republican Party collected enough valid...
Coronavirus

Gov. Mills’ business relief package too little, too late for many small businesses

Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday the creation of a new small business...
Education

USM president’s BLM statement and ‘antiracism pledge’ troubling for many reasons

Last week, Reason covered a story about the new “Black Lives Matter Statement...
Coronavirus

The effects of Maine’s economic, societal shutdown from COVID-19

Maine Policy Institute today released a new report that sheds light on the...
Election Center

Secretary of State misses 13,000 ballots in initial July primary RCV tabulation

Maine’s ranked-choice voting woes continue. Secretary of State Matt Dunlap announced Monday his...
Election Center

New lawsuit seeks to end the use of ranked-choice voting in Maine

Four Maine citizens filed a lawsuit late last week against Secretary of State...
Election Center

New nationwide campaign to educate voters on pitfalls of ranked-choice voting

A coalition of state-based think tanks launched a new nationwide campaign Friday to...
Coronavirus

Shutdown Stories: Maine Indoor Karting

In November 2003, Maine Indoor Karting (MIK) opened its doors, becoming the first...
Coronavirus

Governor Mills and selective science

This piece was originally published in the Portland Press Herald Businesses throughout Maine...
Inside Augusta

Maine Senate Republicans ask the presiding officers to convene the Legislative Council

The leaders of the minority Republicans in the Maine Senate on Wednesday sent...
Coronavirus

Shutdown Stories: Yankee Lanes

On March 17, Nelson Moody, owner of Yankee Lanes bowling alley in Brunswick,...
Coronavirus

Bipartisan pair of lawmakers call for a more expansive rural reopening

A bipartisan pair of lawmakers representing rural towns in Androscoggin and Cumberland counties...
Coronavirus

Shutdown Stories: Live Well Farm

Patty and Scott Ruppert own Live Well Farm, a destination wedding venue in...
Inside Augusta

New legislative proposal would curb emergency powers of Maine’s chief executive

In a press statement released late Monday afternoon, House Minority Leader Rep. Kathleen...
Daily Catch

Tourism and hospitality groups urge Gov. Mills to nix quarantine restriction, reopen Maine’s economy

Seven groups representing different facets of Maine’s tourism and hospitality industry sent an...
Inside Augusta

Gov. Mills announces changes to her plan to reopen Maine

Governor Janet Mills announced changes to her plan to reopen Maine’s economy Friday...
Inside Augusta

For how long will Maine be under a civil state of emergency?

On March 15, Maine Governor Janet Mills declared a civil state of emergency enabling her...
Inside Augusta

Governor Mills signals changes are coming to her plan to reopen Maine’s economy

Governor Janet Mills alluded to forthcoming changes to her plan to reopen Maine’s...
Commentary

Gov. Mills’ multi-phase ‘recovery’ plan is a blueprint for a prolonged economic depression

Governor Mills unveiled her multi-phase plan for slowly reopening the Maine economy on...
Daily Catch

Auburn mayor Jason Levesque asks Gov. Mills to lift statewide stay at home order

Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque sent Maine Governor Janet Mills a letter Tuesday requesting...
Daily Catch

A plan for reopening Maine’s economy

Maine Policy Institute on Monday sent to Governor Janet Mills a list of...
Fiscal

Frivolous spending leaves Maine ill-equipped to weather economic slowdown

Unnecessary spending in Governor Janet Mills’ biennial budget, approved by Maine lawmakers in...
Election Center

Lawsuit aims to halt people’s veto effort to repeal ranked-choice voting in presidential elections

The Committee on Ranked Choice Voting, one of the primary proponents of the...
Inside Augusta

Governor Mills issues order to stop evictions, foreclosures during coronavirus shutdown

Maine Governor Janet Mills signed an executive order Thursday that effectively prevents the...
Daily Catch

Four new deaths, 770 confirmed cases of coronavirus statewide

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting Wednesday an additional...
Daily Catch

Governor Mills extends Maine’s civil emergency order to May 15

Governor Janet Mills announced Tuesday she signed a proclamation extending until May 15...
News

Sharp increase in Maine coronavirus cases attributed to outbreaks at long-term care facilities

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 698 confirmed cases...
Daily Catch

One new coronavirus death reported in Maine as number of confirmed cases grows to 586

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 586 confirmed cases...
Daily Catch

Maine CDC reports two more COVID-19 deaths, 560 confirmed cases statewide

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reached 560 and two more Mainers...
Daily Catch

COVID-19 claims two more lives, 537 confirmed infections statewide

Two more Mainers passed away overnight as a result of COVID-19 according to...
Inside Augusta

Gov. Mills announces plan to open two alternative care sites, floats postponement of June primary election

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Maine grew by 20 overnight to...
Healthcare

Nearly 500 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maine

The number of coronavirus vases in Maine has grown to 499 according to...
Daily Catch

Two more Mainers die as number of coronavirus cases reaches 344

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Maine jumped by 41 overnight to...
Daily Catch

Governor Mills issues statewide ‘stay at home’ order

Governor Janet Mills issued a stay at home order for the State of...
Daily Catch

‘Uncertainty may be the new norm’ in Maine as confirmed cases of coronavirus jumps to 303

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maine has jumped to 303...
Healthcare

Coronavirus spreads to 12 of 16 Maine counties, 275 confirmed cases statewide

Maine recorded its second and third deaths caused by the coronavirus over the...
Daily Catch

Maine vehicle inspection expirations extended for the duration of state of emergency

Governor Janet Mills issued an executive order last week that indefinitely extends expiration...
Inside Augusta

Governor Mills extends state tax filing deadline, deems firearm retailers ‘non-essential’ businesses

Governor Janet Mills announced Thursday she is extending the state of Maine’s income...
Healthcare

Governor Mills takes emergency action on medical licensing, telehealth

Governor Janet Mills issued an executive order today that eases occupational licensing rules...
Inside Augusta

Gov. Mills issues new mandate for nonessential businesses to close for two weeks

Maine Governor Janet Mills and Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center...
Healthcare

Maine’s certificate of need law could hinder the state’s COVID-19 response efforts

As policymakers and public health officials at the local, state and federal levels...
Daily Catch

Letter offers recommendations to assist Governor Mills in Maine’s COVID-19 response efforts

Maine Policy Institute sent a letter to Governor Janet Mills today thanking her...
Inside Augusta

Maine Legislature acts on COVID-19, gives Gov. Mills broad authority to respond

The Maine Legislature adjourned Tuesday evening after a marathon session where the body...
Welfare

Early adjournment could stop bill seeking to expand welfare eligibility

The announcement of an early conclusion to Maine’s legislative session amid public health...

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