Open Govt News
Action Alert from The Maine Heritage Policy Center: Our right to vote on school budgets under assault!
Date: January 22, 2010Author: MHPC
Our right to vote on school budgets under assault!
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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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Time for TABOR
Date: September 10, 2009Author: Steve Bowen
Steve Bowen of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, has a VILLAGE SOUP column explaing the need for a Taxpayer Bill of Rights in Maine. TABOR was a...
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VIDEO: Auto Excise Tax Cut Debate
Date: August 20, 2009Author: Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce
This is a debate between Martin Sheehan, director of communications with The Maine Heritage Policy Center, and Dana Lee, town manager of Poland,...
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Names and Wages of Public Employees Should Stay Public
Date: April 19, 2009Author: Maine Sunday Telegram Editorial
The list of Maine editorials against LD 1353 is growing! The censorship of this important public information on www.MaineOpenGov.Org is a very bad...
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AUDIO CLIP - TABOR Review on WGAN Radio
Date: April 18, 2009Author: WGAN Radio
Communications Director Martin Sheehan was a guest on Inside Maine Satuday morning, discussing the new Taxpayer Bill of Rights and the attitudes of...
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Blocking the Sunshine
Date: April 18, 2009Author: Bangor Daily News Editorial
The BANGOR DAILY NEWS has written an excellent editorial regarding the misguided attempt (LD 1353) to censor the public data on www.MaineOpenGov.Org.
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Excise Tax Cut Appears Headed to Referendum
Date: April 8, 2009Author: Susan Cover
The Legislature, as expected, wants to Maine Voters to decide the this Excise tax-cutting proposal, which was authored by The Maine Heritage Policy...
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VIDEO: Rep. Brian Bolduc Testifies Supporting a Ban on Teacher Merit Pay
Date: April 7, 2009This video of Brian Boluc's testimony in support of his anti-merit-pay proposal is worth watching. His arguments for the "other side" of the...
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VIDEO: Stephen Bowen Testifies Against the Bill to Ban Teacher Merit Pay
Date: April 7, 2009Steve Bowen, director of the Center for Education Excellence at The Maine Heritage Policy Center, testifies against the Bolduc proposal to ban any...
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Bill on Merit Pay for Teachers Meets with Resistance
Date: April 7, 2009Author: Matthew Stone
Rep Brian Bolduc has a bill in the Maine Legislature that would prohibit any measureable evaluations of teacher performance anywhere in...
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Obama Asserts Gov't Control Over the Auto Industry
Date: March 30, 2009Author: Associated Press
This headline says it all. As advocates of the American free-market economy, this is very disturbing. What comes next?
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Administration Seeks Increase in Oversight of Executive Pay
Date: March 23, 2009Author: Stephen Labaton
His supporters cringed and shrugged and denied that Candidate Obama had "socialist" ambitions for America. Is there a similar groundswell of...
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Maine Heritage Policy Center Receives Sunshine Award
Date: March 17, 2009Author: Christopher Cousins
The Maine Freedom of Information Coalition has awarded The Maine Heritage Policy Center its annual Maine Sunshine Award for their development of the...
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Maine Seed Companies See Surge in Sales
Date: March 16, 2009Author: Associated Press
This is good news! Creative, resourceful Maine people are planting gardens for a number of reasons - including providing for themselves as personal...
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Teacher Pay Hits Center Stage
Date: March 15, 2009Author: Matthew Stone
There is a movement across America to change teacher pay to reward the best teachers. Rep Brian Bolduc of Auburn has a counter-productive bill that...
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Other states envy TABOR
Date: March 9, 2009Author: John Andrews
Seems that other states with budget problems wish they had a Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Colorado, which has TABOR in their Constitution, is fighting a...
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"Free Choice" Is Neither
Date: March 6, 2009Author: Tony Payne
This column by Tony Payne, Executive Director of the Alliance for Maine's Future, raises doubts about the oddly named "Employee Free Choice Act," and...
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Maine Public Higher Education Must Be Reconsidered
Date: March 4, 2009Author: Prof. George Jacobson
This guest column, by Professor Jacobson of the University of Maine, highlights the number of higher-ed campus facilities and duplicated course...
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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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The Case for Cutting the Auto Excise Tax
Date: February 21, 2009Author: Martin Sheehan
Town officals across Maine are making "Sky-Is-Falling" arguments against the potential of Maine voters reducing the high Auto Excise Taxes. In...
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Opposing Stimulus Bill Would Have Been Better Course
Date: February 17, 2009Author: Steve Bowen
There are many reasons that opposing the recent "Stimulus" bill would benefit America today and in the future. Top reasons are that it applies very...
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Cut Work Force to Bridge Budget Gap
Date: February 15, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
J. Scott Moody, chief economist with The Maine Heritage Policy Center, writes about the excessive size of the Maine State workforce. He recommends a...
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Government Shouldn’t Ignore Tough Financial Choices
Date: February 12, 2009Author: Martin Sheehan
This guest column in THE FORECASTER compares the hard decisions being made by business owners and managers across Maine with the relectance to make...
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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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CBO: Obama stimulus harmful over long haul
Date: February 6, 2009Author: Stephen Dinan
The current attempt at a "Stimulus Package" will, in the opion of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, actually HURT the US economy in the...
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When State Needs Products or Services, It Should Check Yellow Pages
Date: February 5, 2009Author: Martin Sheehan
In this PORTLAND PRESS HERALD guest column, communications director Martin Sheehan highlights some very generous Stimulus Spending that Maine...
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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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Teacher Tenure System Faulted in Most States
Date: January 30, 2009Author: The Associated Press
The goal of rewarding excellent teachers and getting unmotivated teachers out of the profession is complicated by unions, bureaucracies, legislatures...
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Conservatives Criticize Cost of Government
Date: January 30, 2009Author: Susan Cover
This article was written by a reporter who attended the Augusta "Fiscal Sanity" presentation on Jan 29. Included for "balance" are comments from...
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VIDEO CLIP: Martin Sheehan on Fox Morning News
Date: January 29, 2009Author: WLOB / Fox Morning News
Communications Director Martin Sheehan joins Ted Talbot and Ray Richardson to discuss Fiscal Sanity in Maine and the federal "recovery" act passed...
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Cutting Excise Tax: Could it Backfire?
Date: January 26, 2009Author: Kelley Bouchard
Those opposed to cutting the Auto Excise Tax argue that towns will shift burdens to property taxes or require drastic cuts in town...
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AUDIO CLIP: Economists Offer Alternatives to Governor's Cuts
Date: January 21, 2009Author: MPBN
Scott Moody of The Maine Heritage Policy Center was among several economists interviewed for alternative views on how to Balance Maine's budget.
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Tracking the recession: Gambling revisited
Date: January 17, 2009Author: Stephen C. Fehr
This article includes Maine in the discussion of states' dependence on taxing gambling revenues. Maine may expand the Sunday hours for the Bangor...
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VIDEO CLIP: Fiscal Sanity Tour on WLOB/Fox Morning News
Date: January 15, 2009Steve Bowen visits with Ray and Ted on Fox Morning News to talk about the Fiscal Sanity Tour, beginning today at DiMillo's.
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Bill me now, bill me later
Date: January 14, 2009Author: VILLAGE SOUP Editors
This VILLAGE SOUP editorial points out an interesting proposal to limit the number of insignificant bills in the Legislature. At a time when there...
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Budgets of 40 State Programs Out of Balance
Date: January 14, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
Tarren Bragdon, chief executive officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, highlights Maine's Top 40 fastest-growing programs during the last five...
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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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Arrogant Conceit
Date: December 24, 2008Author: John Stossel
Excellent column by John Stossel, who was the keynote speaker at last fall's Freedom & Opportunity Luncheon in South Portland. Mr. Stossel's topic...
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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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Baldacci budget axes 94 state jobs; 'difficult choices from bad options'
Date: December 17, 2008Author: Christopher Cousins
The revisions to the 2008-2009 fiscal year budget have closed the overspending gap by another $140 million with "minimal" impact on the services the...
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Just Released: 2008 Small Business Survival Index
Date: December 10, 2008Author: the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
We have our work cut out for us! In a thorough study of state-by-state business climates, Maine ranks #48 in factors that spell success for...
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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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The Wal-Mart Effect Updated
Date: November 26, 2008Author: Steven Malanga
The "Wal-Mart Effect" credits the price-cutting chain with helping to keep US inflation rates low during the 1990s. Now another look shows an even...
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Lone Star Lessons - What Texas and Florida can teach big spending states
Date: November 26, 2008Author: Leonard Gilroy
This outstanding article highlights creative, common-sense ways that some state prioritize spending and evaluate the impact of that spending via...
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VIDEO CLIP: Tarren Bragdon on WLOB/Fox News
Date: November 13, 2008Ray Richardson and Ted Talbot of WLOB/Fox Morning News welcome Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center for a discussion of Maine...
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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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Yes, Detroit Can Be Fixed
Date: November 7, 2008Author: Holman W. Jenkins, Jr
Government Bailouts, Taxpayer-Sponsored Mergers or Bankruptcy are the current "answers" to the problems of Detroit automakers. Here's a solution...
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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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D.C. think tank poised to ride Obama's coattails
Date: October 31, 2008Author: Charles Babington
A large left-of-center Washington, D.C. think tank called The Center for American Progress, staffed with many former Clinton staffers, is poised to...
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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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Lone Star Lessons
Date: October 26, 2008Author: Leonard Gilroy
Budget-Balancing Lessons from other states are highlighted here. Maine has the power to be so much better and so much more efficient with our tax...
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VIDEO CLIP - Fox Morning News
Date: October 23, 2008Author: WLOB/Fox Morning News
Martin Sheehan, communications director, discusses the first month of www.MaineOpenGov.Org and points out that Augusta is spending a million tax...
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Maine's on a Squirrel Hunt, but Bay State's Out for Trophy Game
Date: October 17, 2008Author: M.D. Harmon
This editorial endorses the Question #1 Tax repeal... and encourages Maine voters to hunt the bigger beast that threatens economic growth here - THE...
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VIDEO CLIP - Tarren Bragdon on WLOB/Fox Morning News
Date: October 16, 2008Ted Talbot and Pat LaMarche host Tarren Bragdon on the Morning News program, October 16, 2008.
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Legislature Should Set the Tone with Its Own Cuts
Date: October 15, 2008Author: Editorial
This PORTLAND PRESS HERALD Editorial cites ideas proposed by Steve Bowen of The Maine Heritage Policy Center as a good place to start when reducing...
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Less Money for Legislature
Date: October 13, 2008Author: Susan Cover
This MORNING SENTINEL article explores some different ways to reduce the state budget, including downsizing and shortening session in the Maine...
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Detailed Information on State Spending Now Available Online
Date: October 10, 2008Author: Tarren Bragdon
This PRESS HERALD guest column by Tarren Bragdon, chief executive officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center introduces the MaineOpenGov.Org Web...
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Baldacci Forecasts Bleak Economic Outlook
Date: October 6, 2008Author: Associated Press
Governor Baldacci points out that a projected budget gap of at least $500 million is due only to lower tax revenues, NOT to "outlandish state...
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How Government Stoked the Mania
Date: October 3, 2008Author: Russell Roberts
Like a Ponzi game or "pyramid sales" racket, the government's practice of pushing more people into mortgages they couldn't afford worked... for a...
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In Chicago, Private Firm Is to Run Midway Airport
Date: October 3, 2008Author: Susan Saulny
Chicago's Midway Airport will be operated by a private, for-profit firm instead of a government entity. They are one of five airports to participate...
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VIDEO CLIP - Grover Norquist on "207"
Date: October 2, 2008Author: WCSH-TV
Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, was in Portland for a few meetings with The Maine Heritage Policy Center, and had time to...
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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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Green Jobs
Date: September 10, 2008Author: John Stossel
John Stossel, keynote speaker at our 2008 Freedom and Opportunity Luncheon on September 17, has a fantastic column that addresses the timeworn...
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Labor Laws Face Government Interference
Date: September 4, 2008Author: Tarren Bragdon
It is ironic that the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is about taking away the secret ballot that allows American adults to truly make a "Free...
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School Choice Should Be Preserved
Date: September 4, 2008Author: Steve Bowen
As communities large and small across America are beginning to choose school choice as a proven way to improve student performance, it is being...
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School Consolidation Picture Not as Rosy as State Paints
Date: September 3, 2008Author: Steve Bowen
Steve Bowen, the director of the Center for Education Excellence at The Maine Heritage Policy Center, clarifies that school districts are deep in the...
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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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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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Measure Adds New Hurdles to Tax-Hike Ideas
Date: August 27, 2008Author: Matthew Benson, Arizona Republic
Arizona voters will be considering a new measure to make sure a clear majority of Registered Voters is needed to increase taxes.
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MAINE WATCH - Maine's Tax Burden
Date: August 22, 2008Author: Maine Public Television
WATCH VIDEO NOW The "Maine Watch" episode features J. Scott Moody, chief economist at The Maine Heritage Policy Center.
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State Eyes Bigger Bite of Food Inspection Fees
Date: August 20, 2008Author: Victoria Wallack
Not to be confused with higher taxes, this new revenue-generating scheme increases inspection fees on large, medium, small and tiny food producers in...
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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 Debates Ethan Strimling
Date: August 14, 2008Author: Fox Morning News
Tarren Bragdon discusses Maine's Tax Burden with Senator Ethan Strimling, and whether the Tax Foundation's revised ranking (from #2 to #15) means...
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Union Workers Recruited for Political Campaigns
Date: August 13, 2008Author: Victoria Wallack
Ads on the state employee union web site are seeking people to take a leave of absence from their state job to help elect candidates who "share their...
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Baldacci to Propose Income Tax Cut
Date: August 12, 2008Author: Mal Leary
This sounds like a good start. Promising. Better late than never. Good luck!
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Maine Vehicle Fees Going Up by $10
Date: August 11, 2008Author: Blethen News Services
Another day, another fee increase in Maine... (and be sure to rememeber that it's NOT a tax increase!)
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Baldacci Weighs Special Session to Heating Aid
Date: August 7, 2008Author: Matt Wickenheiser
Should the Legislature spend $40,000 (that's 9,050 gallons of heating oil) a day for a special session to allocate $10 million of the theoretical...
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FORBES: The Best States for Business
Date: August 6, 2008Author: Forbes Magazine
Maine "jumped" from #48 to #46 in this year's Business Climate rankings in FORBES. Following the tax and regulatory policies of states at the top...
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Despite Surplus, Maine Has Troubles Ahead
Date: August 1, 2008Author: Matt Wickenheiser
Maine actually finished the fiscal year with a tiny "surplus"? Well, it depends what you include in your checkbook - and when you write the checks! ...
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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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Food Stamps Help 177,966 Mainers
Date: July 28, 2008Author: Meg Haskell
This BANGOR DAILY NEWS article is a straightforward look at Food Stamps in Maine. If you read the article, be sure to scroll down and review the...
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Pellet- Fueled Problem
Date: July 16, 2008Author: Lewiston Sun-Journal Editorial
The work of the state's wood-to-energy task force is compromised by its chairman's position as principal of a new wood pellet-furnace company. Les...
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Back To The Future for Heating Maine?
Date: July 2, 2008Author: Victoria Wallack
The Governor's Wood-To-Energy task force will be recommending Bonds in unknown amounts to subsidize the cost of converting home heating equipment...
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Summer Report Will Address Winter Heating Needs
Date: July 2, 2008Author: Victoria Wallack
Both Democratic and Republican leaders and the governor’s office say it is too early to tell if a special session will be needed. Some speculate that...
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NEA Doesn’t Represent All Teachers
Date: July 2, 2008Author: Lindsey Burke
At the convention this week, the NEA leadership will vote on dozens of resolutions declaring the agreed-upon view of the union. There will be...
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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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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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Petition Efforts May Crowd Polling Places
Date: June 7, 2008Author: Matthew Stone
This Tuesday voters will be asked to sign (or asked NOT to sign) a wide variety of petitions to put ballot questions before Maine voters.
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Baldacci Sees Energy Crisis
Date: June 7, 2008Author: Associated Press
Governor Baldacci acknowledges that energy prices are high and that Maine people are struggling to pay the bills... yet he fails to acknowledge the...
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Plum Creek gains at LURC meeting
Date: May 28, 2008Author: Keith Edwards
Please click link to read the full KENNEBEC JOURNAL article.http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/5099226.html
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Plum Creek Revisions Panned
Date: May 23, 2008Author: Alan Crowell
Plum Creek. Another revision = more complaints from the environmentalists. At what point do investors simply decide to bypass Maine?
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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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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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Lawmakers reneged on vow to cut spending
Date: May 12, 2008Author: J. Scott Moody, Kennebec Journal op ed
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights was narrowly defeated in November 2006. It was on the ballot to allow voters to put a speed limit on the growth of state...
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