Author: Steve Robinson

By Diana George Chapin In her March 14, 2009 Wall Street Journal column, Peggy Noonan recalled in “There’s No Pill for This Kind of Depression” the six-months’ passing since Lehman Brothers fell and the “great recession” began. With the heart-pumping drama of September 2008 replaced by the “drip-drip-drip of pink slips, foreclosures and closed stores,” Noonan began asking her perceptive colleagues what, in their view, the distress of the financial crisis had rendered. Those she interviewed provided a range of sensible insights, but perhaps none more decisive than a powerful Wall Street authority. “Five weeks ago, when I asked a…

This was posted on Rasmussen Reports on Saturday, Nov. 3 Too close to call: That’s where we’re at. With eight states, all carried by Barack Obama in 2008, likely to decide the winner. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll finds President Obama and Mitt Romney tied nationally with 48% support each. Our Electoral College Projections show that the president can reasonably assume he has 237 votes locked up to Romney’s 206. The winner needs 270. Eight states, with a total of 95 Electoral College votes, remain toss-ups and will determine whose sworn in as president in January: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia…

Cartoon courtesy of NetRightDaily.

By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation The October jobs report essentially agrees with the rest of the current data on the economy—the economy is growing slowly, too slowly to bring down unemployment rapidly. In fact, the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in October and the economy created about 171,000 jobs, roughly equal to the usual number of new workers in the labor force. The October report partly reversed the mysterious drop in the unemployment rate in the September jobs report. At the time, J.D. Foster, Heritage’s Norman B. Ture Senior Fellow in the Economics of Fiscal Policy, predicted that September’s jobs…

Feds delay approval process by responding at last minute AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage today released a video to inform Mainers about the political games being played in Washington, D.C. which directly impact the State of Maine. The Governor’s announcement, available on www.maine.gov/governor, relates to the untimely manner in which the Federal Government has responded to Maine’s State Plan Amendment (SPA) that will allow legislatively-approved changes in Maine’s Medicaid program to be implemented. Additionally, Governor LePage reached out to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to discuss the matter by phone today and sent a letter. The…

By Bruce Poliquin Maine State Treasurer Ten short years ago little was discussed about our accumulating public debt. The media wasn’t interested in government’s addiction to spending money it doesn’t have.  Many years of this financial recklessness by career politicians has caught up with America. During each of the last four years alone, Washington has spent roughly $1.5 trillion more than collected from us in federal taxes.  Today, our national economy is suffocating under a growing $16 trillion mountain of debt.  The annual interest paid by taxpayers on this and other public liabilities has reached $450 billion, 13% of all federal government…

MoneyRates.com has ranked Maine second in its report, “Worst States to Make a Living 2012” By Richard Barrington Senior Financial Analyst, CFA You probably know that there are plenty of challenges to making a living in today’s economy. What you may not know is how significantly the place you live can impact some of those challenges. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average wages range from a low of $33,930 in Mississippi to a high of $53,700 in Massachusetts. Unemployment rates range from a low of 3.3 percent in North Dakota, to a high of 12.6 percent in Nevada. Tax…

The Maine Heritage Policy Center released the 2012 Maine Piglet Book today, detailing hundreds of millions of dollars of wasteful government spending. A new version of a similar publication released in 2009, the 2012 Piglet Book highlights government’s big-spending habits, as well areas where leaders can save taxpayers big money. Download the Full Maine Piglet Book (PDF) The Maine Turnpike Authority, the Maine State Housing Authority, “Welfare for Politicians” and stipends given to UMaine employees are just a few of the examples of excessive government spending highlighted in the 2012 Maine Piglet Book. The Piglet Book reports that the University of Maine…

By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation On this Halloween, a truly frightening specter is looming. No amount of garlic, crosses, or exorcists can help us—only Congress and the President can chase this ghoul away. It’s Taxmageddon. A horrifying combination of expiring pro-growth tax policies from 2001 and 2003, the end of the once-temporary payroll tax cut, and just a few of Obamacare’s 18 new tax hikes, Taxmageddon will be the largest tax increase EVER to hit Americans. It’s nearly $500 billion in one year, starting January 1. That’s two months away. The number $500 billion is rather large and abstract, so The…

Democrats had advance warning of bill’s unconstitutionality  AUGUSTA – Rep. Sharon Treat (D-Hallowell) has left Maine taxpayers on the hook for $680,000 worth of legal expenses stemming from a bill she advanced in 2007 that was recently struck down as violative of the U.S. Constitution. Treat sponsored LD 838 in the 123rd Legislature, which was merged into another bill, LD 4, and passed in June of 2007.  The combined bills, pushed aggressively in the Legislature by Treat, tried to stop private businesses from obtaining information about the prescribing practices of doctors.  It was a popular initiative, but one that was…

AUGUSTA – On September 28, 2012, the United States District Court for the District of Maine ordered the State of Maine to pay $678,189.64 in attorney’s fees as a result of IMS v. Rowe. The case involved an “Act To Amend the Prescription Privacy Law” passed in 2007, under the former Baldacci Administration, which subsequently the Courts found to be unconstitutional. “An Act To Amend the Prescription Privacy Law” prohibited prescription information records which contain patient or prescriber-identifiable data from being used for most commercial purposes. The law was modeled after similar laws in New Hampshire and Vermont. Before the Legislature…

(Cartoon courtesy of NetRightDaily) Paying Obamacare penalties would be less expensive than providing health insurance By Joel Allumbaugh Director of MHPC’s Center for Health Reform Initiatives A case study from a real business in Maine, a commercial concrete company serving the construction industry, shows that providing health insurance benefits under Obamacare would result in an annual increase of almost $30,000. Due to the requirements mandated by Obamacare, this small business would face a 27% increase in the cost of providing health insurance benefits. The business now pays a total of $109,022 a year to provide health insurance for its employees.…

Maine’s education policies are more in line with traditional union interests than nearly every other state, according to a new report, “How Strong Are U.S. Teacher Unions? A State-By-State Comparison.” The Maine Education Association is ranked 7th nationally for its influence over state policies, based on the study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute for Advancing Education Excellence in Washington, D.C. “At the time we calculated our data, Maine policies were more aligned with traditional union interests than in nearly every other state,” the report states. “As recently as March 2012, the state did not support performance pay, there were…

By David Azerrad The Heritage Foundation When it comes to explaining how their policies would help the poor and the disadvantaged, conservatives can all too often be likened to a football team that drives all the way to the one-yard line and then just kneels down. Rock-solid principles and policies drive them forward, but they fail to take that last extra little step and explain how these policies would help allAmericans—especially those at the bottom who most need a hand up and a way out. And because of this, the left’s grotesque claims that capitalism allows the 1 percent to fleece the…

AUGUSTA – Maine’s First Family greeted and expressed their gratitude to the generous Mainers who dropped by the Blaine House Saturday with donations of nonperishable food items. Governor Paul R. LePage and First Lady Ann M. LePage welcomed the public at their residence in the first of three Saturday donation days as part of their Second Annual Blaine House Food Drive. In addition to accepting the donations on behalf of the Good Shepherd Food Bank and offering their heartfelt thanks, the two led tours of the residence and invited the public to enjoy light refreshments. Additional donation days will be…

Weekly Address by Governor Paul LePage Those who know me know I enjoy reading history – presidential biographies are my favorites. Recently, I spent a few evenings with Bill O’Reilly’s book “Killing Lincoln.” I have read many books on President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination; however, O’Reilly captures this American tragedy, as no other author has. It really is a thrilling read and I recommend the book. I think there is a lot to be learned from history and I like to think the mistakes and mishaps of the past will not be repeated. But I am not sure this is the…

   Maine officials keep a close eye on Hurricane Sandy   AUGUSTA –Governor Paul R. LePage has signed limited Emergency Declaration that will allow power crews from other states and/or Canada to help Maine prepare for Hurricane Sandy. The declaration will help Maine power providers pre-place their crews by extending the hours their crews can drive. The Declaration was issued today in advance of Hurricane Sandy in order to expedite power restoration for thousands of households in the State that could potentially be without electricity as a result of the pending storm. The Governor and the Maine Emergency Management Agency continue to monitor the…

Cartoon courtesy of NetRightDaily.

The Maine Heritage Policy Center’s released today its newest “Fix the System” report on Maine’s welfare system, which shows that while recent reforms by the LePage administration have improved the state’s system, more must be done to move Maine out of welfare dependency. See the entire report here. The report uses updated numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of Health and Human Services and other sources to show exactly where Maine’s welfare system stands. According to the report, Maine is the only state in the country to rank in the top 10 of three major areas of welfare: Maine ranks…

“Maine experienced an 11 percent decline in students from 1992-2009; however, the number of public school personnel increased by 35 percent. Perhaps more noteworthy during that period is the number of teachers in Maine public schools increased by 3 percent while the number of non-teaching personnel increased by 76 percent.” “The School Staffing Surge: Decades of Employment Growth in America’s Public Schools” is a new report by The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. See it here. By Benjamin Scafidi The Friedman Foundation America’s K-12 public education system has experienced tremendous historical growth in employment, according to the U.S. Department of…

By Michael Moroney The second presidential debate started off with a question from Jeremy, a college student who wanted to know what each candidate would do to improve the economy to help young people get jobs when they graduate. Both candidates’ answers were lacking, but President Obama seemed to have missed the question entirely. Instead of addressing the student’s concerns, he focused on his plan for creating more manufacturing jobs–like the union jobs he helped save in Detroit. For a president who was propelled to the White House on the hopes and dreams of America’s youth, Obama has helped young people…

Cartoon courtesy of NetRightDaily.

By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation Last night’s debate between President Obama and Governor Romney was supposed to focus on foreign policy. It turned into a wide-ranging conversation on everything from the Middle East to American teachers. Heritage Foundation experts were live blogging analysis throughout the night. Below are some highlights from their reactions. A Heavy Focus on the Middle East Both men agreed that the Middle East was changing quickly, but said little about the new face of terrorism. Governor Romney charged that events in Libya, Syria and Egypt demonstrated that the Obama Administration’s policies were unraveling and leaving the region…

Cartoon courtesy of NetRightDaily.

By Bruce Poliquin Maine State Treasurer Because of a new law passed by the state legislature, local school districts across Maine are now able to seek competitive bids in providing health insurance for teachers, staff and their families. Industry professionals estimate possible savings of up to 15% for the second most expensive item in school budgets behind salaries: health insurance for school employees. Expected substantial savings could be used to reduce rising local property taxes. Property taxes fund 79% of the average Maine municipal budget. As shown on the graph below, property taxes have more than doubled over the past 20…

Court upholds law to break school union’s “virtual monopoly” on health insurance The Maine Education Association’s longtime monopoly on health insurance for Maine public school employees has been broken, opening the door for school districts to seek lower-cost health insurance plans—and reduce local property taxes. See Appeals Court decision here. According to the most recent data, the Maine Education Association Benefits Trust paid Anthem an annual premium of $370 million and kept $87 million in a reserve fund, plus paid Anthem $900,000 a year to administer the plan. The MEA Benefits Trust has maintained a stranglehold on health insurance costs,…

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage applauds the end the lawsuit filed by the Maine Education Association (MEA) to withhold health insurance claims data from school districts that have requested it to pursue more affordable coverage. MEA filed filed a motion to dismiss the suit on Wednesday. “School systems can now generate savings from their health insurance programs to reinvest in the classroom instead of wasting time and money fighting frivolous lawsuits,” said Governor LePage. “Last year, I challenged the MEA to increase their professional development spending by offering to match any increase in funding. That challenge remains unanswered. Perhaps now the…

Cartoon courtesy of NetRightDaily

Click to download the MERI Report on 125th Legislature. The Maine Economic Research Institute has released its report card on legislators who vote to improve Maine’s economy—and those who don’t. “Roll Call 2011-2012: A Report on the 125th Maine State Legislature from an Economic Point of View,” grades legislators according to the votes they made on issues that affect Maine’s business environment. Legislators such as Senator Justin Alfond (D-Cumberland) and Rep. Emily Cain (D-Orono) 33.61 scored poorly, earning them the grade of “very weak” supporters of Maine’s business environment. Alfond got a 24.13, while Cain scored a 33.61. Any legislator with…

Cartoon courtesy of NetRightDaily.

By Robert Rector and Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation It’s been a pretty big year for welfare—and a new report shows welfare is bigger than ever. The Obama Administration turned a giant spotlight on the welfare system in July when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proclaimed it had the authority to gut the work requirements from the welfare reform that had helped lift so many people out of poverty after 1996. This morning, a new report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) shows the staggering reality of the growing welfare state—echoing Heritage’s own research that reveals welfare spending is approaching the $1 trillion…

Governor Paul R. LePage invites Mainers to the Blaine House on Monday, October 22 to raise awareness about domestic violence and abuse in Maine. At 5:30 p.m. a formal lighting ceremony, which will cast a purple hue onto the Blaine House, will take place. Purple is the official color that acknowledges domestic violence awareness. Additionally, more than 40 purple candle lights will be lit in the windows of the Blaine House to recognize Mainers who have been lost to domestic violence. Governor LePage will deliver welcoming remarks and speak about the important role men have to make domestic violence and…

By Pem Schaeffer Maine Wire columnist On Sunday, October 7, The Maine Wire published my column,  “Maine’s colorful political chameleons: Angus King and Alan Caron,” in which I applied the idea of chameleons while discussing Alan Caron, Angus King and the conceit of political independence.  I used the metaphor “highly specialized political animals” and observed: “The thing about chameleons, though, is that they don’t change on the inside; they simply change their outer appearance to optimize their circumstances of the moment.” As I wrote the column, I didn’t recognize just how well varying one’s colors would describe Caron’s conduct in today’s…

By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation During last night’s debate between President Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney, Heritage’s policy experts were live-blogging their analysis of the ideas discussed. Below are some of the highlights of our experts’ reactions to the major points made. “Getting Tough on China”: The Truth About Trade President Obama said during the debate that he signed three trade deals. Not true. Obama was left three free trade agreements on his desk when he took office. Those deals and many others were initiated, negotiated, and signed by President Bush. The one trade agreement that Obama has prioritized, the…

Maine People Before Politics posted this story on Tuesday, Oct 16. See it here. State Legislator has spent more than $8,500 in so-called “Clean” taxpayer election funds at bankrupt convenience store he co-owns Taxpayer funding of elections has become a flashpoint in Maine.  Multiple lawmakers have been tripped up by the rules regarding election funding and the use of tax money to pay for campaigns under “clean” elections laws. Now a new analysis of taxpayer-funded campaigns and expenditures has turned up a new series of questionable expenses – all from John Martin, one of the most famous and longest serving…

By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation Tonight’s presidential debate is the last one that will include questions on domestic policy. The previous presidential and vice presidential debates covered a host of issues, but there are key questions still to be answered. Heritage experts submitted five issues below—with questions—that it is important to discuss before the debate moves on to foreign policy exclusively. Join Heritage tonight at 9 p.m. ET—you can watch the debate live on our Debate 2012 page. Heritage will have the live stream of the debate and a live blog of experts’ analysis; follow Heritage’s tweets and chime in. 1.…

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage released today a new video highlighting Maine’s energy future. The Governor speaks directly to Mainers during a three minute video, titled Energy: Maine’s Economic Barrier, which is displayed on the Office of the Governor website. Recent reports conclude that millions of dollars are wasted and jobs are on the line due to government mandates, such as Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. A report from London Economics International found that Maine’s RPS could inflate residential customers electricity prices by $12 million per year. The Maine Heritage Policy Center and Beacon Hill Institute also confirms, by 2017, the RPS mandate…

This is from “What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls”, posted online in Rasmussen Reports. The math is pretty simple: The Big Three areFlorida, Ohio and Virginia. It is virtually impossible for Mitt Romney to win the White House without winning at least two of the three, and right now he’s ahead by two in Virginia and has widened his lead in Florida to four. If Romney wins all three states, he is likely to win the election. President Obama can keep his job if he wins two out of the three, and the president is still holding on in Ohio where he leads…

Governor Paul R. LePage has announced the promotion of two staff members, Michael Cianchette and Carlisle McLean, to senior legal positions within the Office of the Governor. Cianchette has been promoted from Deputy Legal Counsel and Policy Advisor to Chief Legal Counsel. McLean has been promoted from Senior Natural Resources Policy Advisor, to General Counsel/Senior Natural Resources Policy Advisor. “I am extremely proud to appoint both Michael and Carlisle to senior legal positions within my Administration,” said Governor LePage. “Both individuals have been tremendous assets on staff, and I have the utmost confidence that each will serve the people of…

Do you think public education is important? Then join the Maine chapter of StudentsFirst for lunch in Portland or Bangor so that you can share your ideas and concerns! The mission of StudentsFirst is to build a national movement to defend the interests of children in public education and pursue transformative reform, so that America has the best education system in the world. Governor LePage has signed two important bills into law that will help develop an excellent teaching force. One will recruit more talented individuals into the teaching profession through alternative certification programs and one will recognize great teachers and support…

By Governor Paul LePage Weekly Radio Address October 13, 2012 Millions of Americans were jobless and business bankruptcies reached their highest level since the Great Depression; incomes dropped and unemployment benefits were exhausted. Fifty years ago our economy was in trouble and President John F. Kennedy was candid with his words. He said the “state of our economy is disturbing.” This look back to 1961 mirrors the hardships Americans face today. Our recovery has been anemic and incomplete, millions of Americans are without jobs, and the U.S. has out-of-control debt which is creating uncertainty for the future state of our…

In this debate over tax reform, Angus King said he is dating Simpson-Bowles, but not married to them. “I only paid 15%,” he said of his tax rate. Charlie Summers said, “We cannot afford to pay more taxes in this economy,” and Cynthia Dill said she supports a financial transaction tax to make Wall Street fat cats pay more. King, Summers and Cynthia Dill are seeking election to fill U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe’s seat. Former governor Angus King calls himself an independent candidate. Summers is the Republican candidiate, and Dill is the Democratic nominee. The debate was held Wednesday, Oct.…

The Tax Foundation credits LePage Administration efforts AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage is pleased to announce Maine’s rating of “most improved” in tax rankings. The Tax Foundation released recently its 2013 State Business Tax Climate Index comparing tax rates and policies across states. Maine saw the greatest improvement in its tax ranking this year, moving from 37th to 30th on the list. The positive momentum is attributable to the LePage Administration’s efforts to reduce the tax burden on Maine residents and businesses, according to the Tax Foundation. The Index specifically identifies the repeal of the individual alternative minimum tax for individuals…

By Rob Bluey The Heritage Foundation Vice President Biden and Representative Paul Ryan squared off last night for a spirited and intense 90-minute debate at Centre College in Danville, KY. Topics ranged from foreign to domestic, touching on serious issues that Heritage policy experts grapple with every day. While many commentators were critiquing style, a team of 19 Heritage experts cut through the malarkey and focused on substance. They reacted instantly to the debate last night, providing policy research on the multitude of questions raised by moderator and ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz. Below are some of the highlights of our experts’ reactions…

While talking about Social Security and Medicare, Charlie Summers calls out Angus King for his veto of an increase in funding for the Meals on Wheels program. “I think it was the right thing,” King said. King, Summers and Cynthia Dill are seeking election to fill U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe’s seat. Former governor Angus King calls himself an independent candidate. Summers is the Republican candidiate, and Dill is the Democratic nominee. The debate was held Wednesday, Oct. 10 in front of 350 people at a breakfast meeting of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston.

In this video, Charlie Summers states why he is opposed to Obamacare. Angus King defends Obamacare, while Cynthia Dill says she wants to go beyond it and implement a single-payer system. King, Summers and Cynthia Dill are seeking election to fill U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe’s seat. Former governor Angus King calls himself an independent candidate. Summers is the Republican candidiate, and Dill is the Democratic nominee. The debate was held Wednesday, Oct. 10 in front of 350 people at a breakfast meeting of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston.

Chris Busby, editor of The Bollard and a blogger for the Bangor Daily News, wrote a piece for the BDN based on Crash Barry’s report about inappropriate, racist and offensive tweets sent by the son of Angus King. See the tweets in Barry’s report here. (WARNING: They are explicit and highly offensive.) But Busby wrote that he and the BDN “have come to a different conclusion than I have regarding whether it is appropriate to bring this issue to light.” This is an excerpt from Busby’s report in The Bollard, titled “Nasty, brutish and short: the tweets of Angus King’s son.” By…

These are excerpts from The Tax Foundation’s “2013 State Business Tax Climate Index.” See entire report here. By Scott Drenkard and Joseph Henchman Maine vaulted from 37th to 30th best overall tax climate in The Tax Foundation’s 2013 edition of the State Business Tax Climate Index. The Index enables business leaders, government policymakers and taxpayers to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare. Maine had the most sizable rank improvement this year, as a repeal of the alternative minimum tax and a change in treatment of net operating losses launched the state from 37th to 30th best overall. Maine made changes…

In this video, Charlie Summers and Angus King clash over King’s financial interest in an engineering firm that has been serving the natural gas industry for almost 40 years. King was a critic of natural gas last year, claiming that hydrofracking is dangerous to the environment, but he now supports using more natural gas. He received $25,000 last year as a member of the board of directors of Woodard & Curran, an engineering firm in Portland that offers its natural gas utility clients “a one-stop source for all of their engineering and environmental requirements.” King authored an op/ed piece for…

By Bruce Poliquin Maine State Treasurer Last week, Maine students joined those in 40 other states in finally having the choice to learn at publicly funded charter schools that provide flexible curriculums and more accountability than traditional public schools. The first two charter schools ever allowed in Maine opened with 106 deserving students marking the historic events: 46 high school students from 27 school districts gathered at the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS) at Good Will-Hinckley along the Kennebec River in Fairfield; and 60 students in grades K-6 celebrated the new Cornville Regional Charter School in Somerset County. After 18…

The Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. has released the “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors: 2012,” and Governor Paul LePage is only one of four governors in the country who has received an “A.” The report is Cato’s signature state fiscal policy study. See the report  here. The report uses statistical data on spending and taxes from 2010 to 2012 and awards the governors grades A to F, based on two spending variables (per capita and actual change in spending), one revenue variable (dollar value of tax changes) and four tax variables (changes in the personal and corporate income tax rate,…

Obama.com owned by bundler in Shanghai with business ties to Chinese government A breaking story on Brietbart.com reveals that the Obama.com website is owned by a U.S. citizen living in Shanghai, China and may provide the opportunity for foreign or fraudulent donations. The website is managed by a small web development firm, Wicked Global, in Maine. Greg Dorr of Wicked Global lists on his LinkedIn page his additional employment with Peace Action Maine and Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights. This story was written by Wynton Hall on Brietbart.com. In an explosive report set to send shockwaves through official Washington, the Government Accountability Institute (GAI) released a 108-page GAI investigation into the threat of foreign…

By Pem Schaeffer Maine Wire columnist A few weeks back, I wrote on the subject of partisanship here on The Maine Wire. In so many words, I suggested that Angus King is a skillful political opportunist wearing an “independent” overcoat because it offers the best chance to fulfill his personal ambitions—much the same as embracing wind power offered the best chances for milking the government subsidy cash cow. I stand by that view. (You can read King’s manifesto here.) Directly related to this discussion, Alan Caron, a journeyman on the stage of Maine non-profit politics for many a year, recently…

This week heating oil increased by about 10 cents compared to this time last month. At nearly three dollars and 70 cents per gallon, many Mainers will experience another tough winter season trying to make ends meet. As your Governor, I do not want to see anyone left out in the cold. The price of energy is on the rise and it is time elected officials be willing to address the issue both in Augusta and Washington, D.C. Politics should not play a role in heating your home, but it does. Reducing Maine’s dependency on foreign oil is part of…

The MaineHousing Board of Commissioners is investigating $7 million paid in no-bid contracts over seven years to just two computer consultants. And the computer systems are still not done. The Maine Wire was the first to report the story. See it here. Treasurer Bruce Poliquin and MaineHousing Board of Commissioners members Linc Merrill, head of the board’s audit committee, and Peter Anastos, chair of the MaineHousing board, spoke at the State House on Wednesday, Oct. 3 about the federal investigation into MaineHousing’s failure to properly manage a housing assistance program under former executive director Dale McCormick. The Office of the Inspector…

Maine State Treasure Bruce Poliquin sets the record straight about the media’s repeated claims that the resignation of former executive director of MaineHousing, Dale McCormick, was the result of a politically motivated “witch hunt.” Treasurer Poliquin and MaineHousing Board of Commissioners members Linc Merrill, head of the board’s audit committee, and Peter Anastos, chair of MaineHousing’s board, spoke at the State House on Wednesday, Oct. 3 about the federal investigation into MaineHousing’s failure to properly manage a housing assistance program under former executive director Dale McCormick. The Inspector General at the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development has recommended that…

Treasurer Bruce Poliquin (right) and MaineHousing Board of Commissioners members Linc Merrill, head of the board’s audit committee, and Peter Anastos (left), chair of the board of commissioners, spoke at the State House on Wednesday, Oct. 3 about the federal investigation into MaineHousing’s failure to properly manage a housing assistance program under former executive director Dale McCormick. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development has recommended that MaineHousing return almost $200,000 paid for housing assistance in units that failed inspection. HUD is also questioning whether the $111,000 that MaineHousing spent on a…

In this video, Peter Anastos, chair of MaineHousing Board of Commissioners, speaks about hiring a new executive director at MaineHousing and the board’s investigation into more than $7 million paid to two computer consultants. He also mentions how the former executive director, Dale McCormick, deviated from MaineHousing’s mission by donating to social programs and spending $1 million on a failed carbon-credit scheme. Treasurer Bruce Poliquin (right) and MaineHousing Board of Commissioners members Linc Merrill (left), head of the board’s audit committee, and Anastos spoke at the State House on Wednesday, Oct. 3 about the federal investigation into MaineHousing’s failure…

By David Sorenson Over the years, Angus King and his friends have built up a tall tale about King as a straightforward, calls-it-like-he-sees-it kind of guy; someone who has nothing to hide and will always be frank with Mainers.  One needs only to look at his history with taxes – both ours and his own – to see that this tall tale needs to be chopped down to size. King Campaigned Against Higher Taxes in 1994 “My Position On Taxes Is Simple: We Don’t Need To Increase The Already Too-Heavy Burden On Maine People.” (Angus King, Independent For Governor: Making A…

Nominate an unsung hero to be a 2013 recipient, one of the highest civilian honors AUGUSTA – Governor Paul LePage and The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation today announced they are now accepting nominations for the Citizen Service Before Self Honors, which recognizes and honors those ordinary Americans who become extraordinary through their indomitable courage and selflessness. Citizen Service Before Self Honors are unique, because they are presented to unsung heroes by our nation’s most honored heroes—the fewer than 85 living recipients of our nation’s highest award for valor—the Medal of Honor.  The recipients comprise the congressionally chartered Medal of Honor Society, which is one of the most…

By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation During last night’s debate between President Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney, Heritage’s domestic policy experts were live-blogging their analysis of the ideas discussed. Below are some of the highlights of our experts’ reactions to the major points made. Competing Tax Plans  Most of the time on taxes was spent on Romney’s tax plan. Romney’s plan, like most tax reform plans, would lower tax rates and make other changes to the tax code to encourage growth. The economy will not recover fully until we have tax reform. Obama repeated the falsehood that Romney’s plan would…

by Jack Rafuse Reuters – October 3, 2012 Gasoline prices are at all-time highs. As a result, energy policy concerns echo in boardrooms and family rooms across the U.S. At a recent House Energy Committee hearing on “The American Energy Initiative,” Harold Hamm, the top energy adviser of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, warned that President Obama’s proposed repeal of the energy tax provisions for oil and natural gas producers (including a manufacturing tax deduction that all U.S. manufacturers receive) would decrease drilling activity by 40 percent. Can the U.S. afford that? President Obama wants to end the right of major…

A new website, “ColleensWorld.com,” features dozens of online posts made by State Senate candidate Colleen Lachowicz, which include several references to her “love” and “enjoyment” of “stabbing” “poisoning” and “killing things” in the online fantasy game Word of Warcraft. The site also quotes Lachowicz as saying in an online post, “The insanity has gone on long enough. Individuals like me and others can not respond like a funded and organized government effort. Now if you’ll excuse me, I may have to go and hunt down Grover Norquist and drown HIM in my bath tub.” Grover Norquist, a national leader in…

“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” – John Dalberg, Lord Acton By Harold A. Clough Before this Legislature leaves the stage, let’s remember one of its most enduring legacies. It restored honesty and accountability to state government by uncovering and cleaning up a quagmire of corruption and malfeasance. Under the control of the Democratic Party for decades, the corruption was allowed to fester unchecked. The old adage about absolute power was never more true, and the people of Maine were paying the price. In 2010, Maine voters elected Republican majorities to the House and Senate for the first time since…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Center for Clean Elections (MCCE) has issued a report linking the health insurance reform passed last year to greater contributions by Anthem to Republican candidates than in the past. Republicans passed a health insurance reform law (LD 1333, now Public Law 90) in 2011 that has deregulated the insurance market, allowing insurers to charge lower rates for lower risk insureds, thus making health insurance more affordable for more people and bringing more people into the pool of contributors to the insurance market.  The law has had the following effects: It is true, since PL 90, 90% of small businesses are…

King paid only 15% on nearly $4 million in income   AUGUSTA – Yesterday Angus King’s campaign released a deceptive summary that overstated the amount of taxes paid over the last seven years. Tax returns released later last evening show that the millionaire former governor actually paid a lower tax rate than GOP Presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Records show King’s effective tax rate on nearly $4 million in income over seven years was 15%. His lowest rate was 12%, in 2010. By comparison, Mitt Romney’s campaign reports that the presidential candidate paid 20.2 percent over a nine-year period, with a low year of 13%.…

This is a statement issued by Senator Collins’ office in Washington, D.C. A final report from the Housing and Urban Development Inspector General finds that the Maine State Housing Authority mismanaged its program and failed to ensure that participants in its Housing Choice Voucher program were living in decent, safe and sanitary conditions. The final HUD Inspector General’s report recommends that units deemed deficient in its investigation be repaired and that MaineHousing improve its inspection quality control to better ensure that all units always meet housing quality standards. In addition, MaineHousing should repay $194,956 from non-federal funds that it paid for…

This is a statement from Deborah Turcotte, public information manager at MaineHousing. AUGUSTA – The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Tuesday released its final audit report of MaineHousing’s administration of the Housing Choice Voucher Program. MaineHousing did not wait for this report to institute a corrective action plan and consulted with OIG and HUD regularly to implement it. The OIG concluded that “the actions taken by Authority officials are responsive to our recommendations.” OIG’s audit is one of several responses to an October 2011 Norway Advertiser-Democrat article that brought attention to what…

An investigation into the Maine State Housing Authority has revealed mismanagement and a lack of oversight that could cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Federal investigators have recommended that HUD’s Boston Office of Public Housing should require MaineHousing to pay back almost $200,000 in housing assistance payments for units that did not meet federal housing quality standards. A further investigation will be made into $112,000 in payments to an information technology consultant who worked on the Homeless Management Information Systems program. The consultant was paid $848,000 in just two years. The Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Housing…

Governor LePage joins the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence at annual tea and ceremony AUGUSTA – Today, Governor Paul LePage joined the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) at the Blaine House for their annual tea and awards ceremony to kick-off Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The ceremony recognized six men in Maine for their work to prevent domestic violence. Governor LePage was also recognized for his efforts to end domestic violence in Maine. “Domestic violence is a serious societal problem; but there is hope because this abusive behavior can be eliminated,” said Governor LePage. “I have worked with…

By Bruce Poliquin Maine State Treasurer Have you ever wondered what it really means to approve a “Bond Issue” at the voting booth? On November 6, Maine voters will be asked to approve, or not, four such items that will be listed on the ballot. As State Treasurer, it’s my job to prepare the Treasurer’s Statement, which explains the financial impact to Maine taxpayers if they approve the bond issues. The Treasurer’s Statement is to be visibly posted in the polling stations throughout Maine on election day. Voters can also view it online at the websites of the Secretary of State  and myOffice of…

By Diana George Chapin On a hot afternoon in summer, one might imagine Ron Rudolph and Peter Palm resting in the shade chatting about sports or the grandkids. But the two men are so caught up in dealings with their local land trust, it consumes their conversation. The men own neighboring properties in the Waldo County town of Unity, both of which are affected by the activities of Sebasticook Regional Land Trust (SRLT). When Rudolph purchased his 114-acre farm in March of 2001, the land was conveyed to him by the previous owner with a two-page deed. In April 2008,…

To the Editor: This November voters in Maine’s Second Congressional District will choose between the Eastport Mustard Mechant, Kevin Raye, and the East Millinocket Boloney Butcher, Mike Michaud. The first has completed his term as Maine Senate president with an indisputable list of achievements. Often working across the aisle, Raye helped enact important reforms in health care, the easing of the regulatory burdens, tax reductions and welfare containment. In contrast Mike Michaud simply continued to sit through his fourth term in a Congress, which was praised and appreciated by just 10 percent of the population in 2012. The remaining 90…

By Governor Paul LePage My administration has one primary principle that governs education policy, and it is a simple one: “What is best for the student?” That is the number one question that we ask ourselves when we develop education policy. Education is the foundation to success. I know, for me, education was the catalyst that got me off the streets. But the fact is education in Maine has become a partisan issue when it ought not to be. I had the opportunity earlier this year to take part in the Governor’s Education Symposium hosted by the Hunt Institute and…

By Salim Furth, Ph.D The Heritage Foundation On Thursday, the Department of Commerce revised its second quarter estimate of economic growth (in terms of real gross domestic product, or GDP) down to 1.3 percent from 1.7 percent. Anything less than a 2 percent rate of growth is more typical of an economy wilting towardrecession than an economy recovering from a recession. Indeed, bad policies emanating from Washington are creating an environment where recession is more and more likely. Taxmageddon, a $500 billion tax increase, waits in 2013 if Congress and President Obama fail to act. The Heritage Foundation has argued that uncertainty associated with Taxmageddon isalready dissuading…

Governor LePage advocates for reforms in Maine’s energy laws AUGUSTA – Today, Governor Paul LePage released the following statement in regards to the study, The Economic Impact of Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, conducted by the Maine Heritage Policy Center and the Beacon Hill Institute for Public Policy Research: “By 2017, this study predicts energy prices will increase by $145 million for consumers, costing the State of Maine about 1,000 jobs. We already pay a statewide total of approximately $220 million more per year for electricity than the national average. This study shows that special interests are hurting Maine’s economy and costing…

AUGUSTA – Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew said Tuesday that the State will appeal the recent decision by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) that shifts the responsibility of $4.8 million of overpayment to Food Supplement recipients from recipients to the State of Maine. “The financial burden has been wrongly shifted to the Maine taxpayer,” Mayhew said. “FNS’s decision is based on erroneous claims of system failure that could not be further from the truth. We will aggressively pursue an appeal of this decision.” In March, Maine was directed by FNS to recover funds from those who…

Banning BPA has been the lynchpin of a movement by environmentalists in Maine to phase out hundreds of commonly used chemicals, which would increase manufacturing costs and raise prices for consumers. But Health Canada, Canada’s federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health, has determined that BPA does not pose a risk to consumers. As stated on its website, Health Canada’s mission is “for Canada to be among the countries with the healthiest people in the world.” Read the report here. This story was posted September 27 on Greenwire, an online news site run by Environment & Energy Publishing in Washington, D.C.,…

By Peter A. Steele The Maine Wire Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard legislation, which requires that some of the state’s electricity must be generated by expensive “renewable” sources, will raise the cost of electricity by $145 million within five years and will result in the loss of 1,000 jobs. Homeowners will pay $85 more a year for electricity—and businesses will pay over $600 more—just because proponents of “green energy” have mandated that a certain percentage of Maine’s electricity must come from wind, solar, tidal and biomass sources. But industrial businesses are in for a real shock: their electricity costs will increase…

By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation President Obama recently said, “The most important lesson I’ve learned is you can’t change Washington from the inside.” That’s demoralizing to hear when a recession is bearing down on the economy—and it’s an inside job. The Congressional Budget Office has forecasted a fresh recession to hit next year if Taxmageddon, a nearly $500 billion tax increase, hits the nation and Congress and the President drive us off the “fiscal cliff.” President Obama has done nothing but ignore this warning. In a new report, Heritage’s J.D. Foster explains that the very fact that we can see a recession coming…

Governor Paul R. LePage said Wednesday that Maine-based workers’ compensation insurer Maine Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company (MEMIC) has declared a 2012 dividend of more than $13 million. This represents an increase of $1 million from its 2011 dividend payment. In November, approximately 19,000 policyholders will be receiving checks from MEMIC. The checks represent more than 10 percent of 2009 premiums. The dividend amount is based on premiums paid in 2009, as MEMIC performs a review every three years to determine its ability to pay a dividend. “This is an example of a Maine-based insurance company succeeding and benefiting many other…

Crash Barry, author, reporter and columnist, posted this piece as part of The Crash Report on his website. The author of  “Tough Island, True Stories from Matinicus, Maine” and  “Sex, Drugs and Blueberries”, Barry is now working on his next book, “Marijuana Valley, Maine: A True Story.”   By Crash Barry Someone passed along the code for me to join a conference call on Sept. 21 between Angus King staffers and the King campaign’s county chairs. The candidate himself was supposed to join the conversation from Washington D.C. where he was actively raising much-needed cash. Alas, King was busy meeting money-people, so…

The Maine State Web Portal, www.Maine.gov, has received national recognition from the Center for Digital Government (CDG) as one of the best state government web portals of 2012. Additionally, CDG gave Maine.gov a prestigious award for its Regulatory Licensing and Permitting service, noting its innovation and efficiency in serving both government and business. Maine.gov was named as a finalist by the Center for Digital Government in its annual “Best of the Web” competition for government websites. This places Maine.gov as one of the Top 10 state government websites in the country. Government websites are evaluated based on their innovation, web-based delivery of…

U.S. Senator Susan Collins has cosponsored legislation to audit the Federal Reserve. S. 202, The Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2011, was introduced by Senator Rand Paul. “I agree that stronger oversight and greater transparency of the Federal Reserve are crucial, given the fact that decisions made by the Fed have such a tremendous effect on our economy,” said Senator Collins. “In fact, in the last Congress I introduced the Federal Reserve Credit Facility Review Act, which would have given the Government Accountability Office the authority to audit a wide range of credit activities undertaken by the Federal Reserve.  I have…

By Peter J. Thomas and Peter Ferrara The Conservative Caucus The Obama campaign has poured millions into advertising claiming Mitt Romney’s tax proposals would increase taxes by $2,000 a year on the average middle class family.  That is one of the most brazen fabrications in the history of presidential politics. Romney’s tax plan only cuts taxes on the middle class – there is no middle class tax increase of any sort.  Romney actually proposes cutting income tax rates across the board for everyone by 20%.  That reprises Ronald Reagan’s 1981 Kemp-Roth tax cut, slashing income tax rates across the board…

The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research has published a new report, “Liberating the Energy Economy: What Washington Must Do,” detailing how America can “drill, dig, build, and ship its way out of the current economic and jobs malaise.” Written by Mark P. Mills, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, the report recommends lifting capricious regulations that are now suppressing American energy productivity. Below is his executive summary. The United States is the largest single supplier of grains, accounting for about 40 percent of global exports. We enjoy the associated trade, jobs and revenue benefits that come from being the world’s…

The Honorable John Atwood, Chair of the Commission to Study the Conduct of Elections in Maine, has announced that the group will be holding a public hearing on September 27, 2012 at the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF).  The hearing will begin at 5:45pm and will be held in the UMF Olsen Student Center, Dining Hall C. This past May, Secretary of State Charles E. Summers, Jr. appointed a Commission to Study the Conduct of Elections in Maine, in accordance with Resolve, Chapter 133 (enacted by the 125th Maine State Legislature).  He tasked the Commission with conducting a study…

According to new data released today by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, Maine’s personal income growth (pdf) in the second quarter lagged the national average. Maine’s personal income growth was the 36th fastest in the country at 0.9 percent while the nation grew at 1 percent between the first and second quarter of 2012.  Maine was also the slowest growing state in New England.

By Jamie Py When gasoline went to $2.25, I can remember exactly where I was: coaching my son’s football team. I remember because my fellow coaches and the parents of other players were extremely concerned about the outrageous run-up in prices. Now, most people don’t have that seared-in-my-mind moment for something as mundane as a high gasoline price. But, since I’m the face of the retail gasoline marketers, it was a big deal at the time. I was further deluged with media calls and requests for interviews and, ultimately, the TV crews came directly to my house. As long as…

By Prof. John Frary U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens traveled to Benghazi on September 11 to open an American Cultural Center. A mob of Islamic fanatics murdered Stevens, along with three other America diplomats. This murder followed a mob attack on the U.S. embassy in Cairo. In legal terms this would be the same as an attack on New York, Portland or Lubec. International law recognizes embassies as the sovereign territory of the nation that establishes it. It seems to follow that the U.S. would be as legally justified in deploying military force in defense of its embassies as it…

Recognized for her involvement in bettering the lives of military families, First Lady Ann LePage was honored Friday as the 2012 Maine Person of the Year by the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). This is AUSA’s 17th year of hosting this gathering as a way to thank Army soldiers and their families. The event was held at the Rhumbline Motel in Kennebunkport Friday evening. The annual award honoree is chosen by the executive board of the AUSA, Joshua Chamberlain Chapter for Military Appreciation. The criteria are dedication, generosity, benevolence, integrity and unconditional commitment to the men and women…

By David Sorenson  Recently discovered Democratic campaign literature suggests that Democrats are trying to tout government reform as a major achievement and priority of theirs. It was their appointees, however, who caused the waste, fraud and abuse cited below, and it was their lack of oversight that allowed it to continue for so many years. The Legislature’s Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) is a government oversight office that was created by Republicans. Years ago, Democrats tried to close it down in order to cut costs in the face of budget-busting welfare expansions, but the then-minority Republicans fought…