All posts tagged "Opinion"
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ProPublica’s bombshell tax report that wasn’t
ProPublica’s deceptive and misguided campaign to convince the American electorate that billionaires don’t...
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Biden’s ‘infrastructure’ bill: High cost, little reward
If the administration wanted to pass these items not directly tied to infrastructure,...
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Maine’s flavored tobacco ban is destined to fail
As we all learned in our high school history classes, the United States...
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Legislators missed the mark on child care reform this session
A prominent refrain in the pandemic recession-recovery story has been the persistent labor...
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There’s no need for a government-owned network in Knox County
Many advocates in Maine and around the nation have highlighted the need for...
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It’s time to reopen the US-Canada border
Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that at least 50% of...
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Mask rules persist for children in Maine schools. Why?
On Monday, May 24, nearly eight months after it was first ordered, Maine Gov....
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Saving face: Unmasking the mask hypocrisy
On Monday, May 24, a fascinating social experiment began to unfold across Maine...
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Seven lawmakers stripped of committee assignments after entering State House without masks
Seven Maine lawmakers were stripped of their committee assignments on Monday by House...
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State takeover of CMP, Versant Power a boondoggle in the making
Lawmakers on Maine’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee held a public hearing last...
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Starting today, Maine businesses are no longer Gov. Mills’ COVID police
Last week, Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community...
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Why inflation is at a 12-year high
Yesterday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released numbers indicating that the average...
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Governor Mills’ flavored tobacco ban, state bailout is dead wrong
When President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, he provided state and local...
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The problems with Governor Mills’ giveaways for vaccines
On Tuesday, Maine Governor Janet Mills joined President Joe Biden and a small...
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Sen. Collins slams CDC for ‘confusing, conflicting guidance’
Maine Sen. Susan Collins grilled US CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on Tuesday...
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Jobs report shows the government gets the unemployment it’s paying for
A disappointing new jobs report shows that hiring is down and the unemployment...
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Debunking the myths of Maine’s proposed flavored tobacco ban
Now that the dust has settled on the Health and Human Services Committee...
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New Hampshire the beneficiary of New England’s misguided tobacco policies
Last week, Maine’s Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on...
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Time to pursue real tax fairness in Maine with a flat income tax
This week, my legislative colleagues on the Taxation Committee held a public hearing...
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Raising tobacco taxes will hurt residents, businesses struggling to recover post-pandemic
The nonpartisan Revenue Forecasting Committee met recently and determined Maine is in a...
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Maine’s congressional delegation should listen to independent workers and reject the PRO Act
With Maine’s economy still recovering from the pandemic, it’s important that our lawmakers...
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Maine’s flavored tobacco ban goes too far
The Maine Legislature will soon debate LD 1550, a bill that would ban...
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Democrats oppose emergency power reform bills along party line votes
Governor Janet Mills’ reign over Maine people doesn’t appear to be ending anytime...
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Mainers, not Governor Mills, should decide Maine’s participation in the TCI
Maine’s Committee on State and Local Government held public hearings last Friday on...
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The lockdown paradigm is collapsing
It’s taken much longer than it should have but at last it seems...
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Should Mainers be fined $500 for recording their child’s virtual learning?
Lawmakers on Maine’s Judiciary Committee held a public hearing Wednesday on LD 864,...
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New England governors are lifting pandemic mandates, but not Governor Mills
On Tuesday, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced that he will lift all business...
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Where’s Dr. Fauci as another corona-myth dies?
For over a year well-to-do Americans have quite literally been “quarantining” packages shipped...
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Transparency and good governance a casualty of the majority budget
In late March, the 130th Maine Legislature met in-person at the Augusta Civic...
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Governor Mills thinks her emergency power should be even more expansive
On Wednesday afternoon, Maine’s Health and Human Services Committee will hold a public...
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Protect Mainers’ privacy by ending the MIAC
“Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge...
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State legislatures should be reining in emergency powers
This month marks the one-year anniversary of when states and the federal government...
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It’s time to scrap certificate of need in Maine
Members of Maine’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee will hold public...
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9 examples of unrelated waste and partisan spending in Biden’s $2 trillion ‘infrastructure’ plan
The Biden administration on Wednesday released a comprehensive $2+ trillion spending proposal ostensibly...
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Texas hits record low COVID cases, 3 weeks after lifting all pandemic restrictions
On March 2, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was lifting all government...
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Democrats approve Maine’s next biennial budget on majority vote
Maine lawmakers convened at the Augusta Civic Center on Tuesday to tackle the...
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Data from around the country affirm schools are safe to reopen
Over the last few weeks, a central pillar of pandemic-era decision making crumbled....
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Breaking down the bills to reform Maine’s emergency powers law
As many Mainers question the appropriateness of a year-long state of emergency, in...
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Majority budget showdown set for Tuesday in Augusta
Maine’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee met on Thursday to hold a work...
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Democrats confirm plan to approve majority budget by April 1
The Maine Legislature will convene in person on Tuesday to approve the state’s...
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Are Maine Democrats moving ahead with a majority budget?
It appears Maine Democrats are looking to advance a majority budget in the...
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After suspension in 2020, it’s time to repeal vehicle inspections in Maine
Lawmakers on Maine’s Transportation Committee held virtual public hearings Thursday on five bills...
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New analysis shows Mainers can’t keep up with government spending
State government spending has rapidly outpaced population growth in Maine over the last...
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Will Maine make it easier for skilled professionals to relocate here?
On Tuesday, lawmakers on Maine’s Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement, and Business Committee held...
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Federal ‘COVID’ spending just hit $41,870 per taxpayer. Did you see that much in benefit?
President Biden just signed his sweeping $1.9 trillion spending package into law. Once...
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Satellite internet panned after only a few months in Maine
The internet is a critical service — everyone can agree on that —...
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Potential budget deal reached in Senate, House rejects terminating Mills’ state of emergency
The Maine Legislature convened in person on Wednesday at the Augusta Civic Center...
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The collapse of trust in public health
Maybe you have noticed the rise in public incredulity toward the coronavirus narrative...
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Bangor area residents launch ballot initiative to reform governor’s emergency powers
A new citizens initiative was approved for circulation in Maine on January 25,...
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COVID aid bill would pay federal employees $1400 a week if kids are out of school
With thousands of schools still closed or partially closed across the country, millions...
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After trying to oust Maine Capitol Police chief, Senate Democrats defend free speech on social media
More than 70 elected Maine Democrats, including 13 of 21 Democratic senators, signed...
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Watch Secretary of State Bellows’ uncomfortable exchange with Congressman Steil on HR 1
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows testified before Congress on Thursday in support...
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After a difficult 2020, some lawmakers want to raise taxes on struggling Mainers
The last year has been challenging for most people in the country and...
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Certificate of Need hurts health outcomes in rural Maine
In Maine, medical providers like hospitals, out-patient facilities and nursing homes must obtain...
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Time to pull back on emergency powers for governors
Last Friday, Democratic state senator John Mannion of New York called for an end to...
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The high cost of trying to use the minimum wage as welfare
In recent years, a number of economic studies have concluded that small to...
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Which New England state will be first to enact Right to Work?
New Hampshire has a lot going for it compared to the rest of...
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Teachers unions continue to block school reopenings across America
As district school closures enter their 11th month, many parents are frustrated and...
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How would banning flavored tobacco products impact Maine’s budget?
This week, the anti-tobacco organization “Flavors Hook Kids” held an online news conference...
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Baker’s climate official resigns after controversial statements: ‘Turn the screws’ on ‘seniors on fixed income’
David Ismay, the Undersecretary for Climate Change within Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s Executive...
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Mills unveils new compromise on PPP issue, tax conformity
Maine Governor Janet Mills issued a press release Tuesday outlining a proposed path...
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Effort to expand ranked-choice in Maine voting receives hearing this week
Advocates of ranked-choice voting again seek to expand the use of the voting...
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Fake concept drafts don’t belong in a virtual legislative session
Much of the Maine Legislature’s regular business looks different this year. The Clerk...
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School choice in Maine amid the pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic and our collective response to it has changed (for better...
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Gas taxes may soon increase. Here’s why that’s bad news for the poor and middle class
I sold my car when I went to New York City in 2019,...
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How to reform emergency executive power, in Maine and the nation
At the peak of state-ordered lockdowns in response to COVID-19, 316 million Americans across 42...
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New research debunks claim that a $15 minimum wage would not reduce employment
President Joe Biden is pushing a federal $15 minimum wage in his sweeping...
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After closing Maine businesses, Mills wants them to pay state taxes on their PPP loans
Governor Janet Mills wants to balance her bloated budget on the backs of...
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Maine’s food stamp error blues
As I dig deeper into the recent supplemental and biennial budget proposals from...
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Threats of violence and thoughtcrimes: Selective speech standards at the State House
Maine’s Capitol Police Chief Russ Gauvin is on trial in the court of...
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Pandemic security theater
After the start of the Covid pandemic, my local Harris Teeter grocery store...
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3 glaring problems with Joe Biden’s new multi-trillion COVID package
On Thursday night, Joe Biden rolled out a sweeping proposal for $1.9 trillion...
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After a tough year for restaurants, Biden wants to eliminate the tip credit
It’s no secret that restaurants have been particularly impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and...
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Governor Mills’ budget sleight of hand
Maine Governor Janet Mills released the details of her second proposed biennial budget last Friday...
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Why most fell for the lockdowns, while a few stood for liberty
2020 will be remembered for many things: COVID-19, nationwide riots, a divisive election....
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First bills of the 130th Legislature released for public consumption
Last week our team offered a preview of the First Session of the...
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Understanding the economic cost of 2020 pandemic policy
The economic shock from the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, exacerbated by the response...
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Lawmakers submit more than a dozen bill requests to reform emergency executive power
After nearly a year with one person unilaterally dictating public policy in Maine,...
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Government by referendum is almost always a bad idea
The controversy over a hazardous-duty supplement to the minimum wage required by the...
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Is Anthony Fauci right that federalism undermined the U.S. response to COVID-19?
Anthony Fauci, an infectious disease expert who has played a leading role in...
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Gov. Mills keeps Maine out of regional gas tax scheme, at least for now
Last week, the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) released its final Memorandum of Understanding...
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WHO deletes naturally acquired immunity from its website
Maybe you have some sense that something fishy is going on? Same. If...
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Maine’s climate action plan heavy on spending, light on specifics
Earlier this month, the Maine Climate Council released its four-year plan titled, “Maine...
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Americans are in full revolt against pandemic lockdowns
Echoing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio...
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Covid and the rise of cage keeper democracy
The Covid pandemic this year has profoundly transformed the relationship of government to...
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Pandemic reveals parents want more choice in their child’s education
The pandemic has revealed something many of us have believed for a long...
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Some lawmakers propose reining in Mills’ emergency power, assuming control of virus response
Some members of the Maine Legislature are speaking out against Gov. Janet Mills’...
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Maine not out of the woods despite rosier revenue projections
Though Maine’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly taken a toll on...
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Brunswick father says social isolation drove his son to kill himself
Maine is mourning the loss of Spencer Smith, a 16-year-old sophomore at Brunswick...
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New studies on COVID-19 testing underscore need for greater transparency in Maine
Maine Policy Institute has previously noted the potential pitfalls of relying on a single health...
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Maine’s transportation infrastructure needs work
The Reason Foundation’s 25th Annual Highway Report highlights something Mainers of all political...
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Carbon tax backers didn’t fare well in election
One of the overlooked stories on Election Day was the defeat of pro-carbon tax...
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Coronavirus curfews are trending again, despite total lack of evidence they help
Coronaviruses don’t get more deadly or dangerous after dark. Yet across the country, leaders...
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What to be thankful for in this dreadful year of 2020
If you like individual liberty, economic freedom and self-determination, 2020 probably wasn’t the...
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Iconic Maine businesses couldn’t survive the pandemic shutdown and restrictions
A number of iconic Maine businesses have closed this year due to the...
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Portland’s delay on minimum wage ordinance provides no legal cover to local businesses
Portland residents approved on November 3 an ordinance that increases the city’s minimum...
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PCR tests and the prickly partnership between science and state
As COVID-19 case counts rise across the United States and Europe, it is...
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Portland businesses worried about city’s new minimum wage ordinance
Portland voters approved Question A on their local ballots last week, an initiative...
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Governor Mills’ coronavirus narrative is crumbling
Governor Janet Mills’ latest batch of doomsday rhetoric is an admission that her...
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Unions lost a major battle in their war on the gig economy
Should Americans be allowed to freelance? Progressive Democrats have been pushing legislation at...
