Inside Augusta
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Empty Analysis and Flawed Statistics: MPA Struggling to Grasp Impact of Question 2
He strikes again. Mike Tipping, the communications director of the Maine People’s Alliance...
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Welfare Funds Should Stay in Maine
Maine needs to enact common sense reforms of its welfare system. The public...
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Regional Services Can Improve Funding for Education
Democrats say they want to reduce property taxes. But they don’t have the...
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LePage Offers Real Solution to Combat Rising School Costs
While liberals ridicule Gov. Paul LePage’s stance on school regionalization, the real issues...
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Ethics Official ‘Disappointed’ in AFL-CIO’s Decision to Hire Goode as Lobbyist
“Consulting” with the Maine Ethics Commission prior to engaging in unethical behavior does...
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Legislature to Consider Removing Cap on Maine’s Charter Schools
There’s nothing more enjoyable as a constituent than seeing your elected officials keep...
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Democrats’ Budget Is One Page of Talking Points
Democrat politicians in Augusta will take every opportunity to spend more of your...
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Brakey Introduces Bill to Keep Unconstitutional Measures Off Maine Ballots
After facing a number of referendums last November with questionable constitutionality, one state...
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Why REAL ID is ‘Dangerous ID’
In a heated legislative session where many important issues divide us, there is...
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Liberal Media Downplays Support at Tip Credit Hearing
I was in awe Wednesday morning. Just after 8 a.m., the halls of...
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Legislators Must Enact Welfare Reform for Future Prosperity
Over the past six years, welfare reform has been at the forefront of...
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The MPA Is in Denial About the Tip Credit
The Maine People’s Alliance (MPA) is looking more like a gaggle of used...
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Former Democratic Lawmaker Accused of Violating Ethics Law
Potential ethics violations are piling up for Democrats in Augusta. Earlier this week,...
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LePage, DHHS Call for Strict Welfare Reforms
Gov. Paul LePage and Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew...
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The Fallout of Question 2: Increased Taxes for All
Those who read the first half of my take on the aftermath of...
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Say Goodbye to Maine’s Job Creators
The debate around the destructive 3 percent surtax on Maine’s individual income has...
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Maine Can Fund Education Without Taxing High Earners Out of the State
We are going to miss Matt Gilman. Chances are you don’t know him,...
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Question 2 is Already Damaging Maine’s Economy
There’s been a lot of talk in Augusta lately about the implications of...
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Market Must Drive Energy Costs, Not Handouts
Protecting our natural resources is a priority. It is also a priority for...
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Speaker Gideon Threatens House Republicans Over Tipping Scandal
Nearly two weeks after nixing a House Ethics Committee review of Rep. Ryan...
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Tipping Remains Co-Chair as Tax Committee Considers Modifying Question 2
Despite recent controversy surrounding its House Chair, the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation...
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Maine Citizens Seek to Restore Tip Credit
The Maine People’s Alliance is the state’s lone defender of a provision in...
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Time to Do Away With Inspection Stickers
Tired of being forced to have your car inspected every year? Do you...
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Bad Tax Policy Forces Maine Families to Flee to Other States
As your Governor, I want all Mainers to prosper. Providing opportunities for people...
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Ethics Commision Debunks House Dems’ Defense of Ethics Scandal
If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. Someone should relay this...
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LePage Sends Blistering Letter to Paul Ryan
Since the release of the House Republican “plan” for repealing Obamacare, conservative reaction...
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Take Action Today: Prohibit Taxpayer Funding of Governors’ Campaigns
On February 17th, The Maine Heritage Policy Center testified in favor of LD...
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Sen. Ron Collins: ‘No More Parties at Taxypayer’s Expense’
Despite mild political turbulence in Augusta early this session, a Republican State Senator...
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Effort to Expand Medicaid at the Ballot Box is Bad for Maine
They’re at it again. Having repeatedly failed to achieve Medicaid expansion through the...
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PUC decision confirms ratepayers pay twice
Our electricity rates are far above the national average—Maine has moved up from...
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LePage: Union lobbyist Ryan Tipping should resign his House seat
Union lobbyist Ryan Tipping should resign his House seat. Legislators who line their...
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Legislature Considering Changes to “Clean” Election Law
Under Maine Clean Elections Act, outside money continues to pour into the system...
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Democratic Taxation Committee Chair Paid $9,000 By Group Backing Question 2
AUGUSTA – The Maine Republican Party today is exposing a financial connection between...
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Stand up for Free Speech at USM
Are you as concerned as I am about campus leftists shutting down debate...
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Maine DHHS Uncovers $1.7 Million in Welfare Fraud
Few things are more enjoyable than watching liberals eat their talking points. Prior...
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Marijuana Bill Reveals Politics at its Worst
While politicians were scrambling to pass a moratorium on marijuana legalization, their credibility...
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Experts recognize that lowering taxes would make Maine more competitive
Legislators may not understand how taxes work, but experts recognize the tax reforms...
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A Constitutional Opportunity to Undo Economic Damage
Maine voters – by a margin of less than 1 percent – approved...
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The Story You Will Not Hear in the Media about the Budget
In 2002 when Governor Angus King left office the State was seeing red—big...
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Madame Speaker Shuts Down Debate on School Choice
If it weren’t for double standards, Speaker of the House Sara Gideon (D-Freeport)...
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Gov. LePage Offers Common Sense Reform of Maine Public Schools
For those concerned about the education of Maine’s youth, Gov. Paul LePage has...
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Isgro: 5 Reasons Taxpayers Love LePage’s Budget Proposal
Gov. Paul LePage’s biennial budget has been released for only a matter of...
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Gov. LePage Releases Biennial Budget Proposal
Gov. Paul LePage released his $6.8 billion biennial budget proposal Friday, which calls...
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We Must Support Innovative Approaches to Delivering Education in Maine
If we want to put more money in our classrooms, we need a...
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Honor the Will of the People, But Do No Harm
As we look forward to the New Year, we think of those who...
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Eliminating the Individual Income Tax Can Alleviate Municipal Budget Woes
Every two years, the citizens of Maine get to sit back and watch...
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Despite Democrats’ Roadblock, Mental Health Unit Will Be Built
Sometimes when you hit a road block, you have to find a detour....
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Maine’s Citizens’ Initiative Process in Need of Reform
The citizens’ initiative is a procedural piece of legislation invented by progressives to...
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Respect the Will of the Voters, But Do No Harm
When I swore in the 128th Legislature this week, I urged them to...
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Stopping the Backroom Energy Deals in Augusta
Since 2010, average residential New England electric rates have increased by 20 percent....
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Maine’s economic future looks bleak after passage of Questions 2 & 4
The recounts for Questions 1 and 2 are almost ready to begin, but...
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Federal Court Sides with LePage, Dismisses Eves’ Lawsuit
Maine GOP Chairman Rick Bennett released the following statement in response to the...
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What’s Next for the Referendum Questions
We have a lot of work to do in the upcoming Legislative session....
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New Rule to Ban Food Stamps for Major Lottery and Gambling Winners
Winners of $5,000 or more will be removed from SNAP when they win...
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Buckley Wrongly Accuses DHHS in Politically-Motivated Report
It was stunning to read headlines accusing the Department of Health and Human...
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Governor Raises Concern Over Land for Maine’s Future Project
AUGUSTA – Over the last year, nearly a dozen projects under the Land...
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Media Bias Hits New Low
When Steve Collins, the new reporter for the Lewiston Sun Journal was hired,...
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The Democrats’ Proposals for a ‘Better Maine’ Are More of the Same
The Maine Democratic Party may have finally gotten the message: Simply being the...
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Liberals Unlikely to Keep Election-Year Promises on Welfare
As many may have seen, this week the Cato Institute published their 13th...
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Government Officials Have a Responsibility to Learn about Mental Illness and the Programs that Work
Anyone with mental illness or disability can reach their full potential; they just...
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Lepage Urges Congress to Reduce Regulatory Burden on Maine’s Small Hydropower Facilities
Governor Paul R. LePage has called attention to the precarious future of many...
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BDN Wrongly Claims Lepage Administration Abandons At-Risk Youth
Under Gov. Paul LePage’s leadership, the State has reigned in irresponsible spending and...
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My Brother Died From an Overdose a Year Ago Today
My brother died from an overdose a year ago today. I got the...
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Press Herald Publishes Slanderous Account of Governor LePage
The Portland Press Herald has stooped to new journalistic lows. I didn’t think...
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Speaker Eves More Focused on Scoring Political Points Than Following Due Process
A few hours ago, House Republican Leader Ken Fredette released the following statement...
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It’s Time to Take Governor Lepage at His Word, Accept His Apology and Move On
Yesterday afternoon, on orders from Democrat party chairman Phil Bartlett, all Republican house...
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Speaker Eves Ignores House Leadership, Calls for Special Session
This morning, Speaker Mark Eves sent the following email to members of the...
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Governor LePage Apologizes to the People of Maine, Gattine Family
Governor Paul R. LePage has announced he will take several actions in light...
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Leftist Civility: “Die in a fire!”
The self-righteous, egocentric lectures about “restoring civility” coming from the left have increased...
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LePage to Feds: States Don’t Work for You
Last month, Governor Paul LePage received a letter from the U.S. Department of...
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House Republican Leaders Outraged Over Federal Overreach by Obama Administration
Wednesday, House Republican Leaders expressed their outrage over President Obama’s decision to create...
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Governor LePage’s Economic Proposals Ranked Among Best in the Country
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage’s 2016 “State of the State” address has...
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Bad Decisions in Augusta Result in High Electric Prices
Bad decision-making in energy policy is expensive. These bad decisions show up on...
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An Open Letter to All State Employees
Dear State Employees, Recently, the print media and the union bosses at the...
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Welfare Reform in Maine Continues with New Law Taking Effect Today
Between 2010-2014, 4,865 lottery tickets with a prize of $1,000 or more were...
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Critics Should Focus on SNAP Reform, Not Attacking LePage
The nonsensical backlash aimed at Gov. LePage following his attempt to ban junk...
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Governor Calls on Attorney General to Get Serious About Welfare Fraud
Since less than half of the welfare fraud cases presented to Attorney General...
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Maine People’s Alliance Should Put Its Money Where Its Mouth Is
The debate on whether or not voters should increase Maine’s minimum wage continues,...
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Sierra Club Symbolic of Left’s Hypocrisy on Clean Elections
Recently I received a candidate questionnaire from the Sierra Club, a left-leaning organization...
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Democrats’ Reckless Spending Habits Put Programs and People at Risk
Democrats cannot break their bad spending habits. This week I had to sign...
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LePage Questions Funding Source for Four Bills, Calls for Special Session
Yesterday, House Republican Leader Ken Fredette met with Governor LePage, House Speaker Mark...
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Governor Issues Executive Order to Identify Risks Associated with Ethanol Use
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage has issued an Executive Order in an...
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MDOL Comments on Minimum Wage Ballot Question
On Monday, June 13, 2016, the Maine Department of Labor formally submitted public...
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LePage: NRCM Should Meet with Me to Create Jobs for Mainers
Last week the executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine was...
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DHHS Error Rates Story Blown Out of Proportion
Recently, the Bangor Daily News (BDN) published this article which describes the supposed...
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Why Are Mainers Poor?
Yesterday, The Maine Heritage Policy Center released a new report, “Top 10 Things...
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Four Things Other New England States Are Doing Worse Than Maine
New England, on the whole, is an economically-depressed region. Between 2004 and 2014,...
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Question 1 Ballot Committee Claims Immunity to Law They Helped Enact
Last November, Mainers voted to pass Question 1, nearly tripling the amount of...
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Man Who Burns His Food Goes Hungry
When thinking about ethanol, I am reminded of a song my children listened...
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House Majority Leader’s Stunt to Shame Elderly Woman Recklessly Goes Too Far
In a shameless effort to promote his environmentalism, Representative Jeff McCabe took to...
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Regulations Drive Up Cost of Child Care in Maine
For many families with young children, especially single-parent households, child care is critical...
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Maine DHHS Puts Limit on Automatic Replacement of EBT Cards
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has implemented a new...
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NRCM is Ignoring the Will of Rural Mainers
The Natural Resources Council of Maine is at it again. First, they denied...
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MPA: Need, Want, Demand!
This morning in my email, I received a MPA Campaign Vote! Candidate Questionnaire. Naturally,...
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Energy Costs and Fairy Dust
I requested (actually, I begged) to serve on Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee,...
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Many Questions Remain Unanswered Following National Monument Forum
“Maine people know that it isn’t about conservation. It is about control and...
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It’s Not About the Children, It’s About the Union
The Maine Education Association is putting a dishonest initiative on the November ballot....
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EXCLUSIVE: LePage’s Most Beloved Veto
With all the news coverage of Governor LePage’s adoption of a Jack Russell...
