Healthcare News
Spreading New York's Bad Medicine
Date: December 10, 2009Author: Stephen T. Parente & Tarren Bragdon
This article, co-authored by MHPC's CEO, emphasizes that taking failed state-level health regulations coast-to-coast is a very bad idea!
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Three Strikes against Obamacare
Date: December 10, 2009Author: Paul Howard
Mr. Paul Howard of the Manhattan Institute addresses key concerns far beyond the issue of including a "Public Option" health program.
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The U.S. House of Presumptuous Meddlers
Date: November 11, 2009Author: John Stossel
KEY QUOTE: John Stossel on the House Health Care bill:
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VIDEO: Maine's Dirigo "Public Option" Failure Featured on Sean Hannity
Date: October 23, 2009Author: Sean Hannity, Fox News
Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, was included in this detailed Sean Hannity feature on Maine's failed Dirigo experiment.
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Senate Finance Committee: Skating on Potomac River Ice in Middle of a "Snowe" Storm
Date: September 24, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
Senator Olympia Snowe demands that any health care reforms have a price tag attached before the Senate Finance Committee takes a vote. She demands a...
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AUDIO CLIP: Martin Sheehan comments on the $8.5 million federal support for Dirigo
Date: September 4, 2009Author: Maine Public Radio
Maine has received an extra $8.5 million to fund short-term and temporary enrollments in Dirigo. The extra money for Maine's "public option" comes...
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AUDIO CLIP: Tarren Bragdon Comments on National Health Reform
Date: September 4, 2009Author: Maine Public Radio
DHHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was in Maine to discuss health care reform with pre-selected groups of supporters. Tarren Bragdon of MHPC added...
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Dirigo Health - No Maine Miracle Cure
Date: August 25, 2009Author: The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal weighed in this week on Maine's Dirigo Health Program - drawing parallels between the failed plan and Obama's proposed health...
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The Public Option Goes Over
Date: August 18, 2009Author: The Wall Street Journal
The Public Option may be thrown over the side... but in name only! Government-run, "co-ops" would function in a similar manner, and offer the...
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VIDEO: Health Care Debate in Maine
Date: August 17, 2009Author: WCSH TV
WCSH News balanced coverage of Howard Dean's appearance on behalf of the controversial "Public Option" national health care takeover with comments...
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Take the Time and Get It Right
Date: July 28, 2009Author: Martin Sheehan
This guest column by communications director Martin Sheehan questions the artificial hurry-up deadlines for a government takeover of the health care...
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VIDEO: Portland Health Care Rally, July 18, 2009
Date: July 20, 2009Author: NECN.COM
While hundreds of union workers and professional demonstrators were bussed to Portland for this rally in favor of government-run health care; a...
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In Maine, Two Sides on Health Care Step Up Competition for Senators’ Votes
Date: July 5, 2009Author: Abby Goodnough
The national health care discussions can learn from Maine's mistakes with Dirigo and ill-advised "reforms." The "Crisis to Cure" presentation by...
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VIDEO: Michael Tanner on WCSH-TV
Date: June 22, 2009Author: WCSH-TV
Michael Tanner of the CATO Institute in Washington, D.C. joined Rob Caldwell for a discussion on health care reform. Mr. Tanner was in Maine to...
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Dirigo’s Lessons for National Health Care Reform
Date: June 12, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
As calls for a "Public Option" health plan, developed and offered by a new government agency, are discussed across America, policy makers have a...
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VIDEO: "Discussion" with Single-Payer Leader
Date: June 4, 2009Author: Sam Adolphsen
One of Maine's leading advocates for a government-run, "single-payer" socialized medical system is asked about the 800,000 Canadians waiting for...
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VIDEO CLIP: Tarren Bragdon on Fox Morning News
Date: February 26, 2009Author: WLOB/Fox Morning News
Ray Richardson and Ted Talbot welcome Tarren Bragdon, chief executive officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, to discuss today's hottest policy...
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VIDEO CLIP: Tarren Bragdon on WLOB / Fox Morning News
Date: February 6, 2009Author: WLOB / Fox Morning News
Tarren Bragdon talks with Ray Richardson and Ted Talbot about the national and state economic situations and some ideas for Fiscal Sanity. When...
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Special Interests Pull Out Stops to Secure State Funds
Date: February 1, 2009Author: Earl W. Inman
This BANGOR DAILY NEWS guest column by Mr. Inman highlights the tired patterns of panic-filled, doomsday predictions and dire consequenses that are...
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Reforming the U.S. Poverty Standard
Date: January 20, 2009Author: D. Sean Shurtleff
This piece from The National Center for Policy Analysis argues for changes to the way the US measures "poverty" - which is a standard by which people...
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Budget Concerns Top a Long List of Issues Facing Legislature
Date: January 4, 2009Author: Matt Wickenheiser
This week, the Legislature begins to tackle TWO unbalanced budgets, and The Maine Heritage Policy Center kicks off two months of Fiscal Sanity! As...
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National Coalition to Promote Needs of Children
Date: December 17, 2008Author: Maine Things Considered
More spending "For The Children" is immune to question or criticism. Martin Sheehan, of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, counters by saying that...
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Healthcare Reform Debate is Underway
Date: December 17, 2008Author: Maine Public Radio
This MPBN piece is on plans for a government-run Insurance Option, in parallel competition with private-sector insurance plans. Martin Sheehan, of...
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States' Big Health Plans Have Proved Costly
Date: December 2, 2008Author: Davinf Hogberg
Governors are seeking Bailouts to balance state budgets, with federal funds for pet projects like Dirigo. This article includes comments from Tarren...
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Guv Turns to Obama for Dirigo Aid
Date: December 2, 2008Author: Maine Biz
When Maine voters rejected (by a 2 to 1 margin) the late-night funding scheme to keep the Dirigo experiment afloat... where else can Gov. Baldacci...
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Deep Cuts Proposed at DHHS
Date: November 12, 2008Author: Mal Leary
Maine's budget is seriously out of balance, in great part due to overspending on Medicaid. The Maine Heritage Policy Center has produced numerous...
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VIDEO CLIP - Fox Morning News
Date: November 6, 2008Author: Fox 23 / WLOB
Tarren Bragdon, chief executive officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, joins hosts Ted Talbot and Ray Richardson to discuss election results...
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Next Year Starts Now
Date: November 4, 2008Author: Matthew Stone
New proposals to return economic freedom and long-term growth in Maine will be on the ballot next November - unless the new Maine Legislature passes...
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VIDEO CLIP - Tarren Bragdon on Fox 23/WLOB
Date: October 30, 2008Tarren Bragdon meets with Ray Richardson and Ted Talbot to discuss Maine's top issues!
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Across-board budget cuts would look like this ...
Date: October 30, 2008Author: Christopher Cousins
Talk of a very large budget shortfall in Maine has people in Augusta experimenting with some options - including a REAL across-the board cuts. ...
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Hawaii's Hard Health Care Lesson
Date: October 27, 2008Author: Grace-Marie Turner
Hawaii started a "free" universal health care plan for children seven months ago. With budget shortfalls and the reality that this new program was...
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Insurance Costs Soar Beyond Wages
Date: October 16, 2008Author: Meg Haskell
Health Insurance costs have increased faster than Maine people's incomes... is the solution a return to free-market principles and competition OR...
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Surgical Wait Times Down but Canadians Still Waiting More than 17 Weeks for Treatment
Date: October 9, 2008Author: Frasier Institute
While some politicians want to rush to a national or even a state-run single-payer health care system, Americans have the benefit of watching as...
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The Hidden Costs of Single Payer Health Insurance
Date: October 3, 2008Author: Frasier Institute
Speaking from experience, this research piece demonstrates how a single-payer, government-run health system is NOT the way to help more citizens...
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VIDEO CLIP - WGME-TV on MaineOpenGov.Org
Date: September 24, 2008Author: WGMT-TV
WGME-TV news story ran the first day MaineOpenGov.Org was available to the public.
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Web Site Tracks State Spending
Date: September 24, 2008Author: Abigail Curtis
The new MaineOpenGov.Org Web site is featured in this BANGOR DAILY NEWS article. The new web site makes it simple to review many State Spending...
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RADIO CLIP - MaineOpenGov.Org Story on MPBN
Date: September 24, 2008Author: A.J. Higgins, Maine Public Broadcasting
This detailed report includes interviews with lawmakers, a union official and Tarren Bragdon.
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VIDEO CLIP - MaineOpenGov.Org on Fox Morning News
Date: September 23, 2008Author: WLOB/Fox Morning News
Tarren Bragdon, chief executive officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, reviews the new MaineOpenGov.Org Web site with Ray Richardson and Ted...
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VIDEO CLIP - John Stossel Interview
Date: September 18, 2008Author: Ted Talbot, WLOB/Fox Morning News
Ted Talbot, of WLOB and Fox Morning News, interviews John Stossel, the keynote speaker at the successful 2008 Freedom and Opportunity Luncheon.
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Dirigo Falls Behind; Deficit Hits $20 million
Date: September 2, 2008Author: Victoria Wallack
The Maine Heritage Policy Center has been documenting the fact that Dirigo costs too much and offers very little benefit - and now it is even worse,...
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We Need a National Market for Health Insurance
Date: August 28, 2008Author: Grace-Marie Turner
Here in Maine, we're fully aware that the DIRIGO experiment is a disaster. This article explores some policy ideas to cover the uninsured without...
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VIDEO CLIP - Aug 28 Bragdon on Fox Morning News
Date: August 28, 2008Author: WLOB / FOX23
Ray and Ted welcome Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, for a discussion of timely Maine policy news.
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Insurance Superintendent Says She's Not Biased Toward Dirigo
Date: August 27, 2008Author: Victoria Wallack
A key reason The Maine Heritage Policy Center opposed the appointment of Ms. Mila Kofman as Insurance Superintendent was her support for the failed...
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Maine Residents Angered by Expansion of Dirigo Program Subsidy
Date: August 27, 2008Author: Krystle Russin
Maine's Dirigo Health makes national news again - and is being used by other states as an example of what NOT to do!
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Signatures Certified; Beverage Tax Repeal Headed for Ballot
Date: August 19, 2008Author: Victoria Wallack
Maine voters are pushing back against a state government that promised lower spending and lower taxes; but instead increased spending and raised...
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Tarren Bragdon and Steve Bowen on Fox 23 Morning News
Date: July 31, 2008Tarren Bragdon, CEO and Steve Bowen, Director of Education Policy, talk issues with Ray Richardson and Ted Talbot on July 31st.
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PolitickerME's Powerlist 2008
Date: July 29, 2008Author: Politcker Maine
The list of fifty Maine people with the most political influence has been released, and Tarren Bragdon, chief executive officer of The Maine Heritage...
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$150M Dirigo Savings Questioned
Date: July 26, 2008Author: Seacoast Online
Whether Governor Baldacci’s new Superintendent of Insurance, Mila Kofman, accepts this figure in full, or cuts it in half or more... it is still a...
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Signatures Turned In for Vote on Tax Repeal
Date: July 16, 2008Author: Associated Press
The Fed Up with Taxes coalition turned in more than 90,000 signatures to the secretary of state on Tuesday in its effort to force a statewide vote to...
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State Official Joins Health Care Reform Debate
Date: July 16, 2008Author: Meg Haskell
Trish Riley, the primary architect of Gov. John Baldacci’s embattled Dirigo Health Reform of 2003, was in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to deliver...
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Bottled up
Date: July 14, 2008Author: MaineBiz
With petitions in hand, business leaders and industry groups rail against the Legislature’s tax hike on soda, beer and wine
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Dirigo: A Costly Failure
Date: July 11, 2008Author: Ellworth American
This editorial from the ELLSWORTH AMERICAN highlights some reasech from The Maine Heritage Policy Center, and draws the same conclusion: Dirigo has...
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Benefit of Beverage Tax? Health Coverage
Date: June 27, 2008Author: Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell
"For 10 years, the Legislature has worked diligently to lower taxes — homestead exemptions, expanded circuit breaker, lowering sales tax, personal...
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A great divide? A look behind Maine's salary spread
Date: June 15, 2008Author: Kathryn Skelton, Sun Journal
"Present-day Maine, where the average person makes 76 cents for every $1 pulled in by a state worker. Only four other states in the country have a...
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Dirigo Health backup plan in place if new tax law repealed
Date: June 12, 2008Author: Victoria_Wallack, Times Record
The Dirigo Health Agency has set in motion a process that could allow it to collect up to $80 million in fees on health insurance sold to Maine...
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Lindell wins three-way House race - Republican faces Democrat Magnan in District 41
Date: June 11, 2008Author: Jane Andrews, Maine Coast Now
R. Kenneth Lindell signed a “Taxpayers Protection Pledge,” using a list from the Maine Heritage Policy Center research and education organization,...
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Allen Proposes Universal Health Plan
Date: May 28, 2008Author: Tess Nacelewicz
In a campaign promise, Rep. Allen promises to provide free health coverage for all - paid by withdrawing from Iraq, taxing oil companies and other...
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State Rejects Hospital Expansion Proposals
Date: May 28, 2008Author: AP wire story
A review unit in the state Department of Health and Human Services has recommended that the commissioner reject applications by Central Maine Medical...
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Coalition Objects to Tax on Beverages
Date: May 23, 2008Author: Toni-Lynn Robbins
Who isn't Fed Up With Taxes? The way it was slipped through, on Tax Day, would never happen with a Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Until then, groups...
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Maine Community Foundation turns 25
Date: May 22, 2008Author: Bangor Daily News
Today, MCF manages $245 million in more than 1,000 different funds and scholarships. The goal, says Henry Schmelzer, the foundation’s president, is...
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Virginia should take note of taxes in other states
Date: May 19, 2008Author: Stu Neal, Times Dispatch (VA)
do Maine, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Michigan have in common, besides being northern states? The correct answer? High taxes. In Maine,...
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Maine Employers Fight Health Plan Bailout
Date: May 12, 2008Author: Jerry Geisel, Business Insurance
The coalition, Fed Up With Taxes, comprises a dozen business trade groups and is leading a drive to put a proposal on the November ballot to repeal...
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Coalition begins challenge to new taxes on soda, beer, wine
Date: May 5, 2008Author: AP
Several small-business owners have formally begun a campaign to repeal new taxes on soda, beer and wine. The Fed Up With Taxes coalition says the...
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Health costs outpace wages
Date: April 29, 2008Author: Josie Huang, Blethen Maine Papers Dr.
Mainers saw the cost of health insurance grow faster than their incomes in recent years, though the disparity was less dramatic than for the nation...
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