All posts tagged "Commentary"
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Southern Maine lawmakers want to build a taxpayer-funded convention center in Portland
The Maine Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee is holding a public hearing...
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Liberal lawmakers propose creating new commission to propose ‘fair’ and ‘equitable’ tax increases
Members of the Maine Legislature’s taxation committee will hold a public hearing Tuesday...
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Are Maine’s clean energy policies working?
The Big Picture Since 2005 Maine’s carbon dioxide emissions have fallen 41 percent,...
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Pay attention to looming gas tax increase
Progressive lawmakers are in pursuit of an ever-expanding state government in Augusta. Their...
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Lawmakers to address the grave emergency of electric school buses
Lawmakers on Maine’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee are holding a public hearing...
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Governors, elected officials across New England lining up to oppose the TCI
The Transportation and Climate Initiative, a regional coalition of 12 states and Washington...
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Progressives, impeachment and the Constitution
“In republican governments, men are all equal; equal they are also in despotic...
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Maine professor suing faculty union appeals his case to the Supreme Court
Jonathan Reisman, an associate professor of economics and public policy at the University...
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Minimum wage and overtime changes come with unintended consequences
On January 1, the state’s minimum wage and overtime exemption thresholds increased by...
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The new year brings changes to state and local laws
In addition to resolutions, 2020 brings new changes to state and local laws....
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Gas tax coming, and it won’t be used to repair highways
Gasoline taxes may rise 17 cents a gallon and go up from there...
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Age to purchase tobacco products rises from 18 to 21 nationwide
In December, President Trump signed a $1.4 trillion spending package that included a...
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Understanding Governor Mills’ 10-year economic plan
Governor Janet Mills earlier this month released her 10-Year Economic Development Strategy for the state,...
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The individual mandate is unconstitutional. What’s next?
On December 18, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit...
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Governor Mills finally resolves inauguration debt and receives $2,000 fine
On Wednesday, the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices fined Governor Janet...
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TCI would raise gas prices by up to 17 cents per gallon, do little to curb emissions
The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), a regional collaboration of 12 Northeast and...
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TCI policy design would punish Mainers with new gas tax
The Transportation and Climate Initiative on Tuesday released a draft Memorandum of Understanding...
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Occupational licensing reform shouldn’t be a partisan issue
This piece was first published in the Sun Journal. “We will develop a...
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Maine must fund waitlists for people with intellectual disabilities
On October 8, 2019, the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) released...
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Plan for universal health care in Maine calls for massive tax increases
The 129th Maine Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee met Monday...
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Like others that preceded it, Governor Mills’ economic plan will be a bust
Governor Mills on Wednesday released her 10-year economic development plan for Maine, the...
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Congress needs to know its place
“…the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good...
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Lawmakers approve more fake emergencies for consideration in upcoming session
Maine’s Legislative Council convened last Friday to consider appeals made by lawmakers regarding...
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Want a new mobile phone? First, give the state your face
Last week, the government of China initiated a mandate that every new SIM...
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Leg Council rejects crucial workforce development bill, denies public employees their First Amendment rights
The majority members of Maine’s Legislative Council voted Friday to kill along party...
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New California law threatens workers in the ‘gig economy,’ and it’s spreading to other states
A new law that changes how workers are classified in the “gig economy”...
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Public unions want more special favors from Maine lawmakers
On October 23, Maine’s Legislative Council voted to advance LR 3100, a legislative...
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How to fix Maine’s transportation funding shortfall
In June, Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 945, a resolve that created the Blue...
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A local option sales tax would not help the average Maine town or taxpayer
The Maine Heritage Policy Center on Monday released a new policy brief, “A...
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Law, oaths and the truth
In today’s partisan, impeachment-centric political climate, the following have become figurative lapel pins...
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Should a prescription be necessary to purchase vape products?
Last month, Maine’s Legislative Council allowed LR 2765, “An Act To Enact Restrictions...
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Is it feasible to provide a universal basic income in Maine?
Earlier this year the legislature passed LD 1324, a bill that creates an 11-person...
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Video: Understanding the Transportation & Climate Initiative
Governor Janet Mills is considering entering Maine into the Transportation & Climate Initiative,...
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Portland City Council allows RCV expansion to proceed after activists fail to obtain ballot access
On Monday, Portland City Councilors voted unanimously to put a measure on the...
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Ratepayers will suffer if state government forcibly consumes the assets of CMP and Emera Maine
During the First Session of the 129th Legislature, Rep. Seth Berry introduced LD 1646,...
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Should the government be able to use facial recognition technology?
The Portland City Council voted Monday night to postpone consideration of a proposal...
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Maine should end the practice of home equity theft
In Maine and 12 other states, local governments have the ability to steal...
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New report shows Maine could boost revenue through licensing reform
It’s no secret that the fees and requirements necessary to obtain an occupational...
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Briefs submitted in Maine school choice lawsuit
The Maine Heritage Policy Center and EdChoice recently filed an amicus brief in Carson...
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Socialism and unintended consequences
“One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized...
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Maine doled out more than $31 million in tax abatements in 2018
In 2015, the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) released Statement Number 77, advising...
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Public workers are working hard to protect their rights after the Janus decision
In 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that requiring public-sector workers to...
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RCV triggered in Portland mayoral election while NYC voters approve the flawed system
On Tuesday, Portland residents went to the polls to cast their ballots to...
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Gas and diesel tax outlined in TCI framework would hurt Maine’s most vulnerable
The following letter was submitted by The Maine Heritage Policy Center to the...
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As 2020 approaches, threat of Health Insurance Tax looms
With the fourth quarter underway, small-business owners in Maine and across the country...
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What’s wrong with ranked-choice voting: Let us count the problems
The following piece highlights The Maine Heritage Policy Center’s recent report “A False...
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To help small farmers, this Maine city needs to update its zoning regulations
Over the last few months, the debate regarding the future of Auburn’s Agriculture...
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Is a remedy for tiny homes on the horizon?
Last week, Maine’s Legislative Council admitted a bill into the second session that...
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Leg Council rejects universal recognition, undermines public employees’ First Amendment rights
The Legislative Council on Wednesday met to vote on nearly 400 bills submitted...
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Legislative Council approves dozens of non-emergencies
The Legislative Council convened Wednesday to consider roughly 400 bill requests submitted by...
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New clean energy initiative could increase gas and diesel prices for Maine consumers
In June 2010, under Governor John Baldacci, eleven states and the District of...
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Here are some of the ’emergencies’ lawmakers want to debate in the Second Session
It is everyone’s favorite time of the legislative cycle – preparing for the...
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People’s Veto effort to repeal vaccine mandate qualifies for March 2020 ballot
Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap confirmed Thursday his office had certified the...
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Alaska state employees union wants the courts to suppress its members’ First Amendment rights
This summer, Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson released a formal opinion that said...
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Maine’s largely symbolic renewable mandates are hurting ratepayers
In an attempt to curb the effects of climate change, state governments across...
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Maine lawmakers are moving in the wrong direction on vaping
Following a national trend, Maine lawmakers decided in June to raise taxes on...
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It’s time for Maine to recognize occupational licenses issued by other states
Maine is currently the oldest state in the nation and is experiencing a...
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‘Social justice’ degrades our constitutional rights
Over the past 79 years, I have observed that the more socialism is...
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Lawmakers submit nearly 400 bills for consideration in Second Session
They’re at it again. On September 27th, lawmakers were required to submit all...
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Passenger rail authority fleeces taxpayers to the tune of $10 million
In April last year, the Press Herald ran my Maine Voices submission; it...
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Overregulation threatens efforts in Maine to expand broadband
The internet in Maine is getting faster and easier to use than ever...
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Lawmakers should end all political fundraising at polling stations
Last session, lawmakers considered LD 218, a bill that would have prohibited Maine...
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We cannot virtue signal our way to a climate solution
Last week in the news there was a teenage girl being exploited by...
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Complaints about signature gathering practices are nothing new in Maine
News outlets across the state last week reported that some signers of the...
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Governor Mills’ empty promise to the United Nations
When she addressed the United Nations earlier this week, Governor Janet Mills announced...
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Should ballot questions be reserved for general elections?
When the legislature adjourns from session, all non-emergency legislation that was passed becomes...
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Maine needs more broadband investment, not more government regulation
It’s hard to imagine a time when we didn’t have the internet. From...
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Unaccommodating regulation threatens the future of tiny homes in Maine
Tiny houses are a relatively new phenomenon and are becoming a modern lifestyle...
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The inevitable socialist conundrum: Running out of other people’s money
“In the 1950’s the richest nation, the richest city on earth...
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Does Maine have 500 problems that only government can solve?
The Constitution of Maine explicitly states all bills passed by the legislature become law 90...
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Childless, able-bodied adults are driving cost and enrollment under Medicaid expansion
Governor Mills’ first move in office was to sign an executive order expanding...
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After years of resistance, Maine is rolling out new rules for autocycles
Hundreds of new Maine laws will take effect later this week. Among them...
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New hands-free driving law takes effect on Thursday
On September 19th, many bills passed during the First Regular Session of the...
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Is the United States too hard on felons?
I have never been in jail. I have never been arrested. But I...
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Alaska AG moves to protect public employees’ First Amendment rights
Last month, Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson released a formal opinion that said...
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Unity charter school approved to fill 10th and final spot available in Maine
Hundreds of bills failed to become law in the First Regular Session of...
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Congress must reject the federal internet power grab
One of the issues Congress will be considering when they return from August...
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A distorted view of oppression
“A Fatal Tendency of Mankind…common among people. When they can, they wish to...
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Friday is the deadline for Governor Mills’ decision on LD 1083
Governor Janet Mills has until the end of the day Friday to decide...
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MECEP praise for labor unions misses the mark
This week, in honor of Labor Day, the Maine Center for Economic Policy’s...
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What does a state-based health insurance exchange mean for Maine?
Last week, Governor Janet Mills announced that Maine will pursue a state-based health...
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Activists failed to secure enough signatures to expand ranked-choice voting in Maine’s most liberal city
This week, Portland city officials notified Fair Elections Portland, a pro-ranked-choice voting group,...
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Will Governor Mills sign or veto bill that expands RCV to presidential elections?
The Maine Legislature reconvened on Monday to consider four bond proposals that failed...
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Lawmakers reject 3 of 4 bonds, approve RCV for presidential elections during special session
Lawmakers returned to Augusta on Monday to debate several bonds proposed by Governor...
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Lawmakers missed a prime opportunity to cut taxes in first session
It’s no secret that Maine state government’s primary sources of revenue are generated...
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Lawmakers and voters should reject new borrowing
Earlier this week, Governor Janet Mills issued a proclamation calling the Maine Legislature back to...
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Mainers can’t afford corporate welfare
Conservatives are often accused of favoring wealthy individuals and corporations over those in...
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On energy, Maine’s politicians keep making a bad situation even worse
Politicians everywhere should have to take a version of the Hippocratic Oath, swearing...
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Maine Legislature reconvenes next week to consider governor’s bond proposals
Governor Janet Mills issued a proclamation Monday calling the legislature back to the...
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Returning to our constitutional roots
“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as...
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Does ranked-choice voting live up to its promises?
The Maine Heritage Policy Center today released its newest report, “A False Majority:...
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Portland wants a new license for alcohol manufacturers. Is that really necessary?
When Portland City Councilors approved the city’s budget in May, it included a...
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Government dependency will grow as Maine reverses course on welfare to work
Laura Catevenis, a resident of Lewiston, was close to rock bottom. She was...
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The minimum wage myth that persists
Advocates of a higher minimum wage rarely appeal to scholarly research to bolster...
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Maine’s burdensome death tax should be repealed, not expanded
When it comes down to it, Maine is an amazing place to live...
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Allowing public employees to strike would disrupt our schools and communities
The state of Maine currently prevents employees who work in the public-sector from...
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The governor’s outstanding inauguration debt poses real questions for state ethics regulators
Maine Governor Janet Mills still has not paid the full cost of her...
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Is it time to rethink how we fund our roads?
I’ve lived in Maine all my life, and I can’t remember a time...
