All posts tagged "Opinion"

Homeschooling in a crisis? We can help.

A few short weeks ago, could you have imagined what you’d be doing...

Two more Mainers die as number of coronavirus cases reaches 344

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

Governor Mills issues statewide ‘stay at home’ order

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Governor Mills takes emergency action on medical licensing, telehealth

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

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

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

A Colorado election clerk’s perspective on using RCV in his state’s elections

Throughout the country, including here in Colorado, special interests are promoting new voting...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proposed expansion of the Prescription Monitoring Program violates patients’ rights

I am gravely concerned about provisions in LD 2117 which would mandate that...

Early adjournment could stop bill seeking to expand welfare eligibility

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

Maine Legislature to adjourn Tuesday due to coronavirus

The Maine Legislature will prematurely adjourn Tuesday in response to the coronavirus, Maine’s...

Congress should seek a real solution to surprise medical billing

Like many average Americans, health care and its costs are a significant issue....

The left is making big push to raise taxes on hardworking Mainers

Maine Rep. Benjamin Collings of Portland held a press conference last week to...

Cartoon: TCI Gas Tax

Portland tries to prevent signature gathering for RCV veto on Super Tuesday

The City of Portland – Maine’s most liberal municipality – tried to prevent...

Proposed bill would boost salaries of Maine’s governor, lawmakers and judges

Lawmakers on Maine’s State and Local Government Committee held a public hearing Monday...

Proposed bill would fleece taxpayers to please public unions

Lawmakers on Maine’s Labor and Housing Committee will hold work a work session...

Public control isn’t the answer to concerns about Maine’s power utilities

This item was originally published in the Portland Press Herald. Maine consumers –...

Lawmakers looking to nickel and dime Mainers with a local option sales tax

Lawmakers on Maine’s Taxation Committee will hold a work session Thursday to debate...

New report highlights the downfalls of establishing a state-owned utility

A recent report by London Economics International (LEI), a Boston-based financial advisory firm...

Lawmakers wasting time on cage-free egg bill

Maine has a $232 million annual transportation funding shortfall. Nursing homes that care...

Whoops, we forgot to fix the roads

A little over one year into her tenure as governor, Janet Mills is...

Clean energy bill would replicate Blaine House solar project blunder

This session, lawmakers on Maine’s Energy, Utility and Technology Committee is considering LD...

Bill establishing automatic, continuous absentee voter status reeks of fraud

Lawmakers on Maine’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee held a public hearing Wednesday...

Ranked-choice voting in Alaska: RCV fails to deliver on its promises to voters

This op-ed was originally published in the Anchorage Daily News on February 9, 2020. In...

Maine unions want to set education policy at your school

Who should be in charge of local education policy? Should it be parents...

Briefs filed in Maine workplace freedom case

Twenty-two public policy organizations filed amicus briefs last week urging the U.S. Supreme...

The nanny state wants to take away your vape

Lawmakers on Maine’s Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing Wednesday...

Campaign launched to repeal ranked-choice voting for presidential elections

On Tuesday, February 4, the Maine Republican Party announced they are launching a...

After massive spending increase in biennial budget, Governor Mills wants more

Governor Janet Mills released a supplemental budget proposal Monday that calls for $127...

Federal anti-smoking bill would infantilize adults

Just over a month ago, Washington policymakers worked across party lines to raise...

Maine’s high court strikes down warrantless blood tests

On Tuesday, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court struck down a law requiring police...

Bill seeks to limit Mainers’ free speech within 60 days of an election

Maine’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee is holding a public hearing Wednesday on...

Gov. Mills attempts to appease critics, stretches the truth in first State of the State address

Maine Gov. Janet Mills delivered her first State of the State address Tuesday...

Regional coalition pushes back on regional gas tax hike

Organizations representing each New England state convened in Boston last week to voice...

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...

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...

Are Maine’s clean energy policies working?

The Big Picture Since 2005 Maine’s carbon dioxide emissions have fallen 41 percent,...

Pay attention to looming gas tax increase

Progressive lawmakers are in pursuit of an ever-expanding state government in Augusta. Their...

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...

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...

Minimum wage and overtime changes come with unintended consequences

On January 1, the state’s minimum wage and overtime exemption thresholds increased by...

The new year brings changes to state and local laws

In addition to resolutions, 2020 brings new changes to state and local laws....

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...

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...

Understanding Governor Mills’ 10-year economic plan

Governor Janet Mills earlier this month released her 10-Year Economic Development Strategy for the state,...

Cartoon: The TCI is a T-A-X

Cartoon by Eric Allie

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...

TCI policy design would punish Mainers with new gas tax

The Transportation and Climate Initiative on Tuesday released a draft Memorandum of Understanding...

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...

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...

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...

Public unions want more special favors from Maine lawmakers

On October 23, Maine’s Legislative Council voted to advance LR 3100, a legislative...

How to fix Maine’s transportation funding shortfall

In June, Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 945, a resolve that created the Blue...

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...

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...

Video: Understanding the Transportation & Climate Initiative

Governor Janet Mills is considering entering Maine into the Transportation & Climate Initiative,...

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,...

Maine should end the practice of home equity theft

In Maine and 12 other states, local governments have the ability to steal...

Briefs submitted in Maine school choice lawsuit

The Maine Heritage Policy Center and EdChoice recently filed an amicus brief in Carson...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Leg Council rejects universal recognition, undermines public employees’ First Amendment rights

The Legislative Council on Wednesday met to vote on nearly 400 bills submitted...

Legislative Council approves dozens of non-emergencies

The Legislative Council convened Wednesday to consider roughly 400 bill requests submitted by...

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...

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...

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...

Maine’s largely symbolic renewable mandates are hurting ratepayers

In an attempt to curb the effects of climate change, state governments across...

Maine lawmakers are moving in the wrong direction on vaping

Following a national trend, Maine lawmakers decided in June to raise taxes on...

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...

Lawmakers submit nearly 400 bills for consideration in Second Session

They’re at it again. On September 27th, lawmakers were required to submit all...

Passenger rail authority fleeces taxpayers to the tune of $10 million

In April last year, the Press Herald ran my Maine Voices submission; it...

Overregulation threatens efforts in Maine to expand broadband

The internet in Maine is getting faster and easier to use than ever...

Complaints about signature gathering practices are nothing new in Maine

News outlets across the state last week reported that some signers of the...

Governor Mills’ empty promise to the United Nations

When she addressed the United Nations earlier this week, Governor Janet Mills announced...

The Maine Wire is migrating to a new email delivery service

On October 31, 2019, The Maine Wire will transition to a new email...

Should ballot questions be reserved for general elections?

When the legislature adjourns from session, all non-emergency legislation that was passed becomes...

Maine needs more broadband investment, not more government regulation

It’s hard to imagine a time when we didn’t have the internet. From...

Unaccommodating regulation threatens the future of tiny homes in Maine

Tiny houses are a relatively new phenomenon and are becoming a modern lifestyle...

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...

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...

New hands-free driving law takes effect on Thursday

On September 19th, many bills passed during the First Regular Session of the...

Alaska AG moves to protect public employees’ First Amendment rights

Last month, Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson released a formal opinion that said...

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...

Congress must reject the federal internet power grab

One of the issues Congress will be considering when they return from August...

Governor Mills lets RCV for presidential elections become law without her signature

Maine Governor Janet Mills decided Friday to let LD 1083, “An Act To...

Friday is the deadline for Governor Mills’ decision on LD 1083

Governor Janet Mills has until the end of the day Friday to decide...

MECEP praise for labor unions misses the mark

This week, in honor of Labor Day, the Maine Center for Economic Policy’s...

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...

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,...

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...

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...