Open Govt Research
MaineOpenGov.org - New Maine Turnpike Authority Data
Date: July 7, 2010Author: Sam Adolphsen
MaineOpenGov.org updated with Maine Turnpike Authority Spending and Salary data
See This ResultTime for Transparency Act
Date: March 16, 2010Author: The Maine Heritage Policy Center
Time for Transparency Act
See This ResultTestimony Against Anti-Citizen Initiative Bills
Date: February 15, 2010Author: Tarren Bragdon
Testimony Against Anti-Citizen Initiative Bills
See This ResultRADIO SPOT: Maine Open Gov - "Property Taxes: :30
Date: October 24, 2009Author: MHPC
MaineOpenGov :30 Radio Spot "Property Taxes" :30
See This ResultRADIO SPOT: Maine Open Gov - "Property Taxes/Spending" :60
Date: October 24, 2009Author: MHPC
Radio Spot promoting MaineOpenGov.Org, "Property Taxes / Spending" :60
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2009 MAINE PIGLET BOOK
Date: October 18, 2009Author: The Maine Heritage Policy Center and Citizens Against Government Waste
2009 Maine Piglet Book The 2009 Maine Piglet Book is a joint publication of The Maine Heritage Policy Center and Citizens Against Government Waste;...
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Taxpayer Bill of Rights Needed Now More Than Ever: 3,400 govt jobs added & 13,000 private jobs lost
Date: September 3, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
Taxpayer Bill of Rights Needed Now More than Ever: Over the past decade, 3,400 government jobs were added while 13,000 private sector jobs were...
See This ResultSaving Our Future Requires Tough Choices Today
Date: August 20, 2009Author: David Walker
Mr. David Walker, President and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and former Comptroller General of the United States, presented a fascinating,...
See This ResultA Fiscal Wake-Up Call
Date: August 20, 2009Author: Robert L. Bixby
Mr. Robert L. Bixby, Executive Director of The Concord Coalition, presented a Wake-Up Call in Maine on August, 19, 2009. His is a dramatic challenge...
See This ResultIt's Just That Simple!
Date: July 16, 2009Author: US House of Representatives
The latest health care "reform" plan from Washington is illustrated in this flow chart.
The idea is to simplify things, right?
Legislative Honor for www.MaineOpenGov.org
Date: June 3, 2009Author: Maine Senate and House
On June 3, 2009, the Maine Legislature recognized the work of The Maine Heritage Policy Center for developing the government transparency site,...
See This ResultThe Economic Impact of Federal Spending on State Economic Performance - A Maine Perspective
Date: May 11, 2009Author: Donna Arduin, Arthur B. Laffer, Ph.D, Wayne H. Winegarden, Ph.D, Ian McDonough
A team of economists, including Arthur B. Laffer, Ph. D, has studied the lastest "stimulus" package from Washington. They make a compeling case...
See This ResultTESTIMONY - Tarren Bragdon on LD 1353
Date: April 30, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
The ill-advised censorship of long-available public information through LD 1353 is opposed by Tarren Bragdon, chief executive officer of The Maine...
See This ResultEmpowering Students, Achieving Results Three reform approaches to bring greater accountability
Date: April 23, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen
Maine legislators are lobbied by the public colleges and universities for the growing annual tax subsidies.
What about new ideas to use public...
TESTIMONY: Tarren Bragdon on LD 976 TABOR
Date: April 16, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, testified in support of LD 976 - An Act to Provide Tax Relief. Also known as the Taxpayer...
See This ResultPRESENTATION: Bragdon on TABOR, 041609
Date: April 16, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, testified in support of LD 976 - An Act to Provide Tax Relief. Also known as the Taxpayer...
See This ResultLD 1088: The Illusion of Tax Reform
Date: April 16, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
LD 1088 proponants claim it lowers state income taxes and "shifts" $75 million in taxes to tourists and seasonal residents. Scott Moody, chief...
See This ResultPRESENTATION: Is LD 1088 Good Tax Reform?
Date: April 16, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
LD 1088 is being billed as Tax Reform for Maine; which will be revenue neutral while lowering Maine peoples' taxes by exporting the taxes to...
See This ResultQuestions and Answers on the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)
Date: April 15, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights, TABOR, is a good idea to control the unsustainable spending that has put a large present (and larger future) burden on...
See This ResultReducing the Excise Tax: Good for Maine Families, Businesses and the Environment
Date: April 9, 2009Author: Martin Sheehan
This is Unique Opportunity for voters to reduce a Big Tax on Maine People that generates Small Revenues for Maine Towns.
See This ResultTarren Bragdon Testimony at Senator Olympia Snowe's Health Care Reform Listening Session
Date: April 8, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
Tarren Bragdon, chief executive officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, was invited to testify before a session seeking input on national Health...
See This ResultLower Excise Taxes Change The Deal on New Cars
Date: April 7, 2009Author: Martin Sheehan
Lowering Maine's high Auto Excise Taxes reduces the highest check most car buyers have to write when buying a car... the Excise Tax payment! This...
See This ResultTESTIMONY: Steve Bowen on LD 750, School Budget Referenda
Date: April 6, 2009Author: Steve Bowen
The transparent referendum process for citizen approval of their school budgets in Maine has been a success! It has gotten citizens interested in...
See This ResultTax Reform - Scott Moody's Testimony on LD 1088 Proposal for Maine Tax Relief
Date: April 2, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
Maine Tax Relief or Tax Reform does not make Maine a more competitive state without Tax Cuts. Exchanging Income Taxes for Sales Taxes will cut...
See This ResultMaine Property Taxpayers Should Have Paid $188 Million Less (10%) in Property Taxes in 2008
Date: March 26, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
In 2004, Maine voters approved a measure that increased state Education funding; and was supposed to result in a 15% Property Tax Cut (remember...
See This ResultLower Auto Excise Taxes Add Incentives for Hybrid Vehicles
Date: March 26, 2009Author: Martin Sheehan
Eliminating the Sales Taxes and first three years of Excise Taxes on hybrid and high-mileage vehicles adds new incentives for Maine people to get the...
See This ResultMaine's Automobile Excise Tax Hurts the Poor and Elderly
Date: March 26, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
Maine's High Auto Excise Tax has a greater negative impact on lower income and older Maine residents; lowering this burden will make newer, safer,...
See This ResultTax Cuts Stimulate Auto Sales
Date: March 26, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen
In the very basics of Supply and Demand economics - lowering prices increases demand, right?
This document briefly shows several recent examples...
Presention: Fiscal Sanity Solutions
Date: March 20, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon and Steve Bowen
In closing the Fiscal Sanity Tour, here are a number of Solutions!
This presentation by Tarren Bragdon and Steve Bowen reflects the massive...
FISCAL SANITY Issue Ten: Raising the Cigarette Tax is a Bad Idea
Date: March 17, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
Increases to Maine's cigarette tax have significanly lowered the tax yield as smokers either quit OR find creative ways to avoid paying the...
See This ResultTestimony in Support of LD 290 - An Act to Allow ME Residents to Buy Health Insurance Out of State
Date: March 16, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
Testimony in support of LD 290, which will enable Maine people to purchase affordable health insurance plans from other states. Too many intrusive...
See This ResultTame The Medicaid Monster
Date: March 5, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
As part of the Fiscal Sanity Tour, this presentation reviews policy changes that will increase Maine people's private health insurance choices. ...
See This ResultFISCAL SANITY Issue Nine: A 55 percent state share of K-12 spending? We're already there.
Date: February 26, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen
In a 2004 vote, Maine people agreed that the state should fund 55 percent of local schools.
Is this happening?
It depends what figures are...
FISCAL SANITY Issue Eight: 220 Reasons Why The Taxpayer Bill of Rights Helps Maine's Taxpayers
Date: February 23, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
Since the 2006 vote for a Maine Taxpayer Bill of Rights failed to pass by a slim margin... the Legislature has increased the Tax Burden on Maine...
See This ResultFISCAL SANITY Issue Seven: Is Maine's Public University System Meeting Needs of the Private Sector?
Date: February 19, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
If the publicly subsidized Maine University System exists, in part, to educate and equip Maine people with the skills needed for good jobs here in...
See This ResultFISCAL SANITY Issue Six: Measuring Maine's Public Colleges: Non-Instructional Staffing...
Date: February 5, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen
The data is clear that Maine’s colleges and universities have a high degree of non-instructional spending. For policymakers looking to preserve the...
See This ResultFISCAL SANITY Slide Presentation
Date: January 26, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody and Steve Bowen
These are the slides from the Portland Fiscal Sanity Tour Presentation by J. Scott Moody and Steve Bowen of The Maine Heritage Policy Center.
They...
FISCAL SANITY Issue Five: Maine's State Workforce is Too Big and Overpaid... But Where?
Date: January 22, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
The State of Maine employs too many people and overpays them. This research quantifies the areas of over-staffing and over-compensation, and offers...
See This ResultFISCAL SANITY Issue Four: Putting the State Budget Deficit in Perspective
Date: January 14, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
Maine's state revenues are down, but the figure is still more than it was in 2006!
The reason for the huge deficit ($840 million and counting) is...
COST Letter to Gov. Baldacci on "Throwback" and "Throwout" Taxes
Date: January 13, 2009Author: Joseph R. Crosby
This informative letter to Governor Baldacci from the Council on State Taxation (COST) explains the added tax burden on business by "Throwback" and...
See This ResultFISCAL SANITY Issue Three: Where The Money Is: Top 40 Fastest-Growing Maine Programs
Date: January 8, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen
As Maine's overspending threatens to pass $840 million in the next two-year budget, analysis by The Maine Heritage Policy Center idenifies a Top 40...
See This ResultFISCAL SANITY Issue Two: Cost per Degree Measuring Maine's Public and Private Colleges
Date: January 6, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon and Stephen Bowen
Maine Taxpayers subsidize about one-third of the operating costs at the University and Community College Systems ($215 million in 2005-06).
How...
The Truth About Oil and Gasoline
Date: December 18, 2008Author: Denise McCourt
This presentation by Ms. Denise McCourt of the American Petroleum Institute reviews energy supplies and demand in coming decades.
See This ResultMaineOpenGov.Org: The CON Letters
Date: October 7, 2008Author: Misc Maine Writers
The Maine Heritage Policy Center has received hundreds of email letters about the new MaineOpenGov.Org.
Here is a representative sample of CON...
MaineOpenGov.Org: The PRO Letters
Date: October 7, 2008Author: Misc Maine Writers
The Maine Heritage Policy Center has received hundreds of email letters about the new MaineOpenGov.Org.
Here is a representative sample of PRO...
Maine Checkbook Trivia Cards Vol 1
Date: September 18, 2008Author: Martin Sheehan
Checkbook Trivia Cards
See This ResultTransparency-Shedding Light on Government Activities II: The Hidden LD 1 Cost-Shift
Date: March 13, 2008Author: Stephen Bowen, M. Ed.
The passage of LD 1 promised to increase education spending and lower property taxes - instead, costs have been shifted among budget categories to...
See This Result$217 Million in Reasonable Spending Cuts To Close Budget Gap
Date: March 12, 2008Author: Stephen Bowen, Tarren Bragdon, Scott Moody
Facing a $190 million budget shortfall, The Maine Heritage Policy Center identifies $217 million in reasonable budget cuts that maintain services for...
See This Result2006 Maine State Government "Gravy Train" Update
Date: October 25, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
Maine has too many state employees (28,101 in 2006) and pays them too generously - which results in an average compensation package for a state...
See This ResultOverview of Maine's Term Limits Law
Date: October 18, 2007Author: Tarren Bragdon and Stephen Bowen
Maine's Term Limits Law, a relatively weak term limits law when compared with other states', remains popular but is under attack by some state...
See This ResultAn Act to Expand Affordable Health Insurance Choices in Maine
Date: October 9, 2007Author: The Maine Heritage Policy Center
This model legislation addresses the high cost of health insurance by allowing Maine people to buy coverage from authorized insurance carriers in any...
See This ResultState and Local Expenditure Growth Surpasses Personal Income and Population Growth
Date: August 21, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
Maine state spending (and Maine taxes) are growing more rapidly than personal incomes and the population growth. The charts and tables in this...
See This ResultGovernor Job Bush: A Record of Leadership and Policy Accomplishment
Date: August 16, 2007Author: Steve Bowen, Tarren Bragdon, Jason Fortin and J. Scott Moody
Governor Jeb Bush, featured speaker at the 2007 Freedom and Opportunity Luncheon, was a popular, effective governor in Florida. His reforms to...
See This ResultThe Fallacy of Tax Exportability
Date: February 22, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
Exporting Maine taxes to tourists is a popular, recurring "new idea" in the Legislature. It may seem like a win-win proposal (generating more tax...
See This ResultHow Local Government Can Thrive with Spending Limits
Date: November 29, 2006Author: Geoffrey F. Segal
Governments should operate like Maine families do - spending within the limits of their resources. Familes don't have unlimited resources, yet most...
See This ResultPublic Policy and Entrepreneurship
Date: October 5, 2006Author: Russell S. Sobel, Ph. D. and Joshua C. Hall
Policymakers can create the opportunities for more success among the citizens they serve with a greater focus on institutional reforms that increase...
See This ResultBeyond the Supplemental Budget: What About State Debt, Per Capita Tax Burden, & the Structural Gap?
Date: March 29, 2006Author: Roy Lenardson
Whether it is the ballooning debt, the expanding per-capita tax burden, the anemic reserves for rainy days, or the ominous structural gap forecast,...
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