All posts tagged "Commentary"
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‘The Will of the People’ and the home care hypocrisy
If you’ve followed Maine politics in the last two years, you know that...
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Our revenue surplus should be returned to the people through tax cuts
Over the next three years, the State is projected to collect more than...
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We have the right to property, and property in our rights
Reaching into the farthest recesses of my political recollections, I recall how I...
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Budget recommendations for critical investments make sense for Mainers
Last week I sent Governor-elect Janet Mills my administration’s recommended budget proposal. I...
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Is political discourse dead?
One political point that most people agree on these days is that political...
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Power under the guise of doing good
“Next to enjoying ourselves, the next greatest pleasure consists in preventing others from...
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Education in Maine is worse than you think
It’s no secret that Maine’s public K-12 education system needs work. Bloated bureaucracies...
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New ordinance diminishes the rights of property owners in South Portland
When struggling to make ends meet, conventional wisdom tells us we have few...
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Our next governor’s success is the success of our state
Last week, the Maine voters cast their ballot to elect Janet Mills as...
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Investigating the left’s latest scam
While Maine voters were out rejecting a plan for “Universal Home Care” on...
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Government does not belong in the marriage business
I recently officiated my younger brother’s wedding. It was a Southern Maine outdoor venue,...
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We must always appreciate our veterans
This year, Veterans Day marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World...
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Maine law forces me to accept union misrepresentation
This piece was first published in the Portland Press Herald. I am an...
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Maine voters reject Question 1
After a yearlong campaign of misinformation waged by the supporters of Question 1,...
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Whoever wins, Maine’s next governor needs to address these challenges
After the sounds of boisterous campaign rallies fade and the realities of the...
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Yes, Virginia, there is a mob
Liberals are justifying their mob actions by saying that violent confrontation and inciting...
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Question 1 a scheme to achieve fully socialized medicine
More and more we are seeing direct democracy take hold in our elected...
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Question 1 is a shell game
Question 1 plays on voters’ emotions to pass policies that will hurt the...
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Progressives try to debunk tax flight by ignoring the data
The Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) recently released an analysis of interstate...
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New report details devastating impacts of Question 1
The Maine Heritage Policy Center on Tuesday, Oct. 23 released a new study...
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Reductions in child poverty not a result of minimum wage increases
Last month, the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) published a study on the...
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Question 1 will fail those it is intended to help
Question 1 promises a false sense of security that is destined to fail...
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Don’t expect higher minimum wages to reduce poverty
The standard objection to increasing the minimum wage is that it will result...
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Fear in the hearts of progressives
First, as a constituent of Sen. Susan Collins, I would like to thank...
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Question 1 on November’s ballot is bad policy
There are so many bad policies rolled into Question 1 on November’s ballot...
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The numbers tell the real story on education funding
It’s the political season and a lot of misinformation is flying around. I...
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Say goodbye to the presumption of innocence
Watching the Senate hearing on Ford vs Kavanaugh last week was sickening. It shows...
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Kavanaugh’s opponents determined him unfit in July, and no investigation will change that
The editorial board of the New York Times, an authoritative source for Left-Lurcher...
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The Legislature fails to make our elderly a priority
Legislative leaders caved to the Maine Municipal Association and watered down my bill....
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Question 1 will raise taxes and create new, unnecessary bureaucracy
Question 1 on the ballot this November will read as follows: “Do you want to...
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MPA’s Question 1 talking points now refuted by one of their own
The Maine People’s Alliance (MPA) is pushing a ballot initiative – Question 1...
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Smart investments in marine terminal have opened new markets to Maine companies
A decade ago, the International Marine Terminal in Portland was nothing more than...
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‘Grassroots’ a stretch for the attacks against Collins and Kavanaugh
E.J. Dionne recently penned “The Grassroots Revolt Against Kavanaugh,” datelined Portland, Maine, September...
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Businesses beware: higher unemployment taxes are on the horizon
In this tight labor market, we must use every tool at our disposal...
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Ask your doctor if Referendax is right for you
Matt Gagnon did a superb job of “fisking” Edgar Allen Beem‘s recent Forecaster...
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One last veto: Gov. LePage blocks bill to fund ranked-choice voting for November elections
Dear Honorable Members of the 128th Legislature: Under the authority vested in me...
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Question 1’s new surtax would be detrimental to Maine’s economy
This commentary was originally published in the Bangor Daily News. The state economist recently...
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Why do Maine liberals want to penalize marriage?
Proponents of the Universal Home Care tax plan were either caught by surprise...
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The Supreme Court sideshow
On Sept. 17, 1787 the Constitutional Convention completed its final draft. In September...
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Maine will be restarting our program to lower your health insurance costs
My administration passed a bill to lower health care costs in 2011, but...
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Open markets for internet providers can bridge the digital divide
Many would agree that consistent access to the internet is an important part...
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Inefficient Maine Immunization Program creates barriers to vaccines for children
The Maine Immunization Program (MIP) is publicly funded and provides necessary vaccines to...
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Let’s keep our economy on the right path by attracting more workers
The Maine Department of Labor recently released its projections for job growth for...
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Free markets lead to prosperity
“Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign garnered considerable appeal from millennials. These young...
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Question 1 would devastate Maine’s economy
1,700 fewer Maine residents. 1,800 fewer workers in our labor force. 3,800 fewer...
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Portland City Council chasing opportunity into oblivion
Recently, the Housing Committee of Portland’s City Council met to discuss the possibility...
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The belligerent ignorance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Oh, Alexandria. Ever since she won a stunning upset victory over her democrat...
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The right to vote is for citizens
People don’t value the things they get for free. Giving legal residents who...
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Question 1 is bought and paid for by outside interests
In case you haven’t heard, Question 1 on the November ballot will ask...
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Why are ‘experts’ so determined to mislead the public on Universal Home Care taxes?
When Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap was accepting public comment on the...
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The ‘universal home care’ referendum will be disastrous for Maine’s economy
Ballot Question 1 is another benign-sounding, feel-good referendum. In reality, it’s one more...
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Maine’s ballot initiative process serves outside interests, not Maine people.
Today the Maine Heritage Policy Center released its newest report, “The Will of...
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They came for the pizza; a modern fable about democratic socialism
Three roommates called Earnest, Vic, and Patsy spent part of every day gathering...
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What’s next for progressives after Universal Home Care?
I have a hunch. This late summer or fall, after Labor Day but...
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The legislature has one last shot to get things done
Here we are in August. It’s the dog days of summer, and the...
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MPA continues to mislead the public on Universal Home Care
The latest in a long list of misrepresentations from the Maine People’s Alliance...
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Where have the state employee unions been when it mattered?
Last week I spoke to you about the reforms we are proposing for...
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Microsoft’s ‘Airband Initiative’ serves rural Maine without government’s clumsy hand
Twenty-three million Americans–about 39 percent of the population–do not have access to broadband...
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Bridgton Hospital a community asset we must protect
The Bridgton Hospital crisis is typical of progressive constructs. First, the Board buys into...
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Buckeye Institute secures post-Janus victories for public employees in Maine, Minnesota
On Thursday, July 26, two public-sector unions in Maine and Minnesota granted a...
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We’re reforming our child welfare system to protect our children
The tragic deaths of two little girls under the watch of DHHS is...
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The Supreme Court and Democracy
This year’s voting will be more exciting than usual in Maine. The Democrats...
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Liberals are holding tax conformity hostage to fund their elections with taxpayer dollars
It’s summer in Maine. We should be enjoying it. Instead, at the State...
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Work requirements are necessary to discourage Medicaid abuse
Ever since the Trump administration signaled its openness to work requirements for able-bodied...
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Licensing reform can help attract talent to Maine
Policymakers are always asking: ‘What can we do to attract young, talented people...
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Ignorance of history gives socialism its appeal
Socialism appeals to many millennials under 30 because of Socialism’s two built-in fallacies:...
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DPFR serves as the Legislature’s collective slush fund
Occupational licensing is supposed to protect the public from unqualified professionals whose goods...
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LePage and House Republicans spare Mainers big tax hike
Earlier this week, Maine House Republicans sustained Governor LePage’s veto of a bill to...
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Supporters of Universal Home Care initiative wage war of misinformation
Since the upcoming Universal Home Care (UHC) initiative sponsored by the Maine People’s...
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Let’s work together and do the right thing for our seniors
Over the last seven and a half years, the Legislature and I have...
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Why do lawmakers choose licensing?
Despite economists on both sides of the aisle agreeing that occupational licensing laws...
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Medicaid expansion and paying home-care workers must be done in a fiscally responsible manner
Medicaid expansion is the law, and I am committed to implement it. But...
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The earned income tax credit is Maine’s best anti-poverty program; let’s expand it
The biggest flaw in most social assistance programs — including TANF, SNAP, Medicaid,...
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Secretary of State Dunlap finalizes ballot language for Universal Home Care initiative
After accepting public comment for 30 days on the wording of the upcoming...
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Medicaid expansion activists will hurt people who need help just to prove a point
Medicaid-expansion advocates plan to bring busloads of able-bodied adults to DHHS offices on July...
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Public funding for higher education fails students and taxpayers
Government meddling in competitive industry invariably hurts all citizens, and higher education is...
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Corporate welfare cost Maine taxpayers $42.5 million in 2017
Economists have long criticized politicians’ penchant for creating narrow legal carveouts and targeted...
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The Legislature is coming into special session to take the easy way out
A year ago, House Republicans shut down state government to make sure bad...
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Maine Policy Discussion: Ken Fredette
The Maine Heritage Policy Center is sitting down for detailed policy discussions with...
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Maine Policy Discussion: Shawn Moody
The Maine Heritage Policy Center is sitting down for detailed policy discussions with...
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Maine Policy Discussion: Garrett Mason
The Maine Heritage Policy Center is sitting down for detailed policy discussions with...
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RCV hurts property and voting rights
The founders recognized that it is in man’s nature to become seduced by...
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School choice under attack in town of Alna
In 2010, The Maine Heritage Policy Center shared an article titled, “School Choice...
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There are important issues to consider before going to the polls
Each June, Maine voters go to the polls to elect local officials and...
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Where is all the civility we were promised?
The days are winding down until the June 12th primary elections take place,...
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Maine Policy Discussion: Mary Mayhew
The Maine Heritage Policy Center is sitting down for detailed policy discussions with...
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Socializing higher education is not a viable solution to the student debt crisis
When it comes to the student loan debt crisis, government-oriented reforms are not...
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Let us be thankful for the men and women who have been so willing to serve our nation
As World War Two neared its end in June of 1945, General George...
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Lack of decorum in the Legislature thwarted progress in the Second Session
In addition to the ill feelings I shared yesterday regarding the reprehensible partisan...
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‘Reprehensible partisan behavior’ paralyzed the Maine House
Have you ever wondered what government officials do all day? I am going...
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Maine has an exciting opportunity to reduce energy costs
I have been talking about the need to reduce energy prices for nearly...
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Thanks to ranked-choice voting, expect a spike in spoiled ballots
Advocates of ranked-choice voting (RCV) commonly claim that their preferred method of deciding...
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Forget the minimum wage – licensing reform will help lift Mainers out of poverty
Despite its relatively minimal impact on Maine workers, the labor issue presently garnering...
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The struggle is real, but civility is too
On Thursday, May 10 in Westbrook, a very unusual thing happened. Thirty students...
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Scarborough residents successfully recall three sitting school board members
Something beautiful happened this week – something that should scare every elected official...
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Work requirements work, but don’t ask MECEP for a fair analysis
Last month, the Maine Center for Economic Policy posted an article on its...
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Speaker Gideon kills good legislation that would benefit the Maine people
The Maine people elect legislators to represent them in Augusta. They expect these...
