MHPC Research
Understanding Maine's Business Climate
Date: February 3, 2010Author: J. Scott Moody
Part one of The Maine Heritage Policy Center's twelve-part series on business trends in Maine
See This ResultThe School Budget Validation Process: Stronger Voting Rights and Real Budget Savings for Maine Taxpayers
Date: January 25, 2010Author: Steve Bowen
School Budget Validation Process Under Attack
See This ResultTestimony in Opposition to LD 1739: "An Act to Remove the Requirement That the Annual Budget of a Regional School Unit Be Approved at a Budget Validation Referendum"
Date: January 25, 2010Author: Steven Bowen
Testimony in opposition to LD 1739, which takes away Maine people's right to vote on school budgets
See This ResultMaine Schools: Making the Grade? - Presentation
Date: January 23, 2010Author: Steve Bowen
Maine Shools: Making the Grade? - Presentation
See This ResultRacing to Catch Up
Date: January 13, 2010Author: Stephen Bowen
Without major changes in state policy, Maine has almost no chance of winning millions of dollars in federal funding for its schools.
See This Result
Testimony Against Raising Taxes to Fill the Budget Gap
Date: January 13, 2010Author: Scott Moody, Chief Economist
Scott Moody's Testimony Against Higher Taxes to Fill the Budget Gap
See This ResultThe Death Tax - Killing Family Business and the American Ecomony
Date: January 7, 2010Author: Estate Tax (Death Tax)
Death Tax - Killing Family Business and the American Ecomony
See This ResultThe Senate Bill: HR 3590 "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act"
Date: December 1, 2009Author: United States Senate
The Senate Bill, at 2,074 pages, is even longer than the House Bill. It contains more controls, regulations, new taxes and expanded
See This ResultRepublican Summary: Senate Health Reform Bill, HR 3590
Date: December 1, 2009Author: Senate Republicans
This brief document highlights some key areas of significance to Republicans in the Senate Health Reform bill
See This ResultDemocrat Summary: Senate Health Reform Bill, HR 3590
Date: December 1, 2009Author: Senate Democrats
This brief document highlights some key areas of significance to Democrats in the Senate Health Reform bill
See This ResultNYTimes: Maine Finds a Health Care Fix Elusive
Date: November 19, 2009Author: Gardiner Harris
NYTimes: Maine Finds a Health Care Fix Elusive
See This ResultHR3962: A BILL To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.
Date: October 30, 2009Author: US House of Representatives
With it's deceptive title, this bill is a takeover America's health care system. The last part is quite revealing:
See This ResultHR3962 Complete Summary
Date: October 30, 2009Author: US House of Representatives
HR3962 is the complicated, far-reaching plan for a complete government takeover of the health care system. This Summary is 1,979 pages shorter!
See This ResultGuest Column: Ending Maine’s Tax-and-Spend Culture
Date: October 29, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen
In this BANGOR DAILY NEWS guest column, Stephen Bowen of MHPC describes TABOR in a rational, realistic manner.
See This Result
Anti-TABOR Campaign's Out-Of-State Support
Date: October 28, 2009Author: MHPC/Public Records
The out-of-state funding for the Anti-TABOR campaign is astonishing!
See This Result
Latest Polling on Question Four (Taxpayer Bill of Rights)
Date: October 28, 2009Author: Critical Insights
The latest polling on Question Four shows a tight race.
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 - "Spending" :30
Date: October 24, 2009Author: MHPC
Radio Spot promoting MaineOpenGov - "Spending" :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
See This ResultWall Street Journal article touts critical TABOR vote in Maine
Date: October 24, 2009Author: John Fund - Wall Street Journal
Blue States Vote on a Taxpayer Bill of Rights Spending-limit initiatives in Maine and Washington have national implications By John Fund Portland,...
See This ResultSetting the Record Straight on TABOR and Education in Colorado
Date: October 21, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen and Dr. William Moloney
Colorado Education outcomes are equal to or a bit better than those in Maine - and Colorado spends significantly less money per pupil.
See This Result
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;...
See This ResultMaine Voter Perspective on Healthcare Reform
Date: October 12, 2009Author: Critical Insights
A new Critical Insights poll reveals what Maine people think about various health care reform plans.
See This Result
Setting the Record Straight on Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights
Date: October 11, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody and Barry W. Poulson, Ph.D.
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights helped Colorado grow its economy very well - in good times and in slow times.
See This ResultTaxpayer Bill of Rights (Question 4) Needed Now More than Ever: Between FY 2008 and FY 2009, 58 percent of Maine's towns lost a combined 3,056 people while those towns increased property taxes by $45 million.
Date: October 5, 2009Author: Mr. J. Scott Moody
More than half of Maine's town actually lost population in the last year, and still increased taxes: a double-whammy with higher taxes on few people!
See This Result
Who's Afraid of Questions 2 and 4? Follow the Money to See Who Benefits...
Date: September 30, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen
Who’s Afraid of Questions 2 and 4? Follow the Money to See Who Benefits from Out-of-Control Government Spending.Research of public records...
See This ResultHow Much Will Maine Car Buyers Save?
Date: September 18, 2009Author: The Maine Heritage Policy Center
The Excise Tax cuts in Question #2 are an effort to raise the standard of living in Maine by making newer, safer, fuel-efficient cars affordable. We...
See This ResultMaine: Economic Impact on the State from the Cap and Trade Proposals
Date: September 17, 2009Author: American Council for Capital Formation & the National Association of Manufacturers
Dr. Margo Thorning of the American Council for Capital Formation presented Maine-specific estimates for the economic impact of Cap & Trade proposals;...
See This Result"Welcome Back Tax" Comments by Scott Moody
Date: September 16, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
Scott Moody, chief economist at The Maine Heritage Policy Center, describes the significantly higher income tax burdens shifted to new, non- and...
See This Result"Welcome Back Tax" Comments by Troy Dennon
Date: September 16, 2009Author: Troy Dennon
Mr. Troy Dennon is the first plaintiff in the constitutional challenge of Maine's tax reform law. Mr. Dennon works in Maine, and wants to move his...
See This Result"Welcome Back Tax" Comments by Arnold Clark, Esq.
Date: September 16, 2009Author: Arnold Clark
Attorney Arnold Clark, director of the Center for Constitutional Law at MHPC, addresses the specific areas when Maine's Tax Reform law appears to...
See This Result"Welcome Back Tax" Comments by Tarren Bragdon
Date: September 16, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
The recent tax reforms in Maine create a constitutional question because of the different treatment of Maine taxpayers based on their residency. It...
See This ResultThe “Welcome Back Tax” Created by an Unconstitutional Tax Reform Law
Date: September 15, 2009Author: Arnold S. Clark and J. Scott Moody
The recent Tax Reform Law (LD 1495) creates an unconstitutional
See This ResultA Brief Guide to Question 4 (TABOR) on the November 2009 Ballot
Date: September 11, 2009Author: The Maine Heritage Policy Center
A Brief Guide to Question 4 (TABOR) on the November 2009 Ballot What is the wording of Question 4 to go before voters on November 3, 2009? •...
See This ResultA Brief Guide to Question 2 (Excise Tax Cut) on the November 2009 Ballot
Date: September 11, 2009Author: The Maine Heritage Policy Center
This two-page guide on Question Two provides many details about the benefits to Maine's long-term sustainable economy when this tax is cut.This...
See This Result
300 Million Reasons Why the Taxpayer Bill of Rights Helps Maine's Beleaguered Taxpayers
Date: September 10, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
Since the fall of 2006, when Maine voters gave elected officials one more chance to control state spending by narrowly defeating TABOR, the...
See This ResultQuestion 4 (TABOR) Info Card
Date: September 4, 2009Author: The Maine Heritage Policy Center
Maine's habitual overspending has created an environment where private sector employment is down, government employment is up and state spending has...
See This ResultQuestion 2 (Vehicle Excise Tax Cut) Info Card
Date: September 4, 2009Author: The Maine Herigage Policy Center
The average vehicle in Maine is more than ten years old - and a huge part of this is our 7th-highest Excise tax, due at registration (and every year...
See This Result
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 ResultFive Questions For Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Date: September 3, 2009Author: The Maine Heritage Policy Center
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was in Maine to get "input" from a few groups of people who already support the...
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 ResultMainers Face Higher IncomeTaxes Than Canada, France and Italy with Proposed Health Care Surtax
Date: August 17, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
The proposed Income Tax surcharges to fund government-run health care would mean higher taxes for some Maine taxpayers than many "socialist"...
See This ResultAnalysis of the Draft of the American Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 for Maine
Date: July 28, 2009Author: The Lewin Group
The impact of the national health reform bill being discussed in Congress now (HR 3200) would have a huge negative impact on the insurance choices...
See This ResultPRESENTATION: Labor Market Dynamics and Workforce Trends - Formidable Challenges for Maine
Date: July 20, 2009Author: John Dorrer
Mr. John Dorrer of the Maine Department of Labor, presented a compelling look at Maine's Labor Market and the anticipated demands for workers in the...
See This ResultConfronting the Critics: Myths and Facts about Charter Schools in Maine
Date: July 20, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen, M.Ed.
Maine is one of just ten states without charter school legislation. This costs Maine an innovative school model, and millions in federal funding...
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?
LD 1495: Frankenstein Tax Reform
Date: July 7, 2009Author: J. Scott Moody
The tax reforms of LD 1495 are quite complex, and not beneficial to Maine taxpayers! While planned to be "revenue neutral," the bill expands sales...
See This ResultA Series of Unfortunate Events: Dirigo - Maine's "Public Option" Is a Costly Failure
Date: July 1, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
As legislators in Washington consider a "Public Option" health plan, run by the government in competition with private companies, they would be...
See This ResultA Series of Unfortunate Events: Maine's Failed Experiments with Big Government Health Insurance
Date: June 17, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon and Martin Sheehan
As health care reform is being debated across America, Maine provides outstanding experience with Community Rating, Guaranteed Issue and a "Public...
See This ResultA Series of Unfortunate Events: Maine's Medicaid program's costs... result in health care rationing
Date: June 16, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon and Stephen Bowen
Maine's expansion of Medicaid has put the state in the #1 position for enrollment, with 23% of the population on this tax-funded health plan. ...
See This ResultLegislative 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 ResultPublic Charter Schools: Centers for the Kind of Educational Innovation that Maine Needs
Date: May 5, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen
Now, more than ever, Maine's schools need new ideas and new ways of solving the budgetary and student achievement challenges they face. The state's...
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 ResultA Floor or a Ceiling? A Brief History of the Essential Programs and Services model
Date: April 29, 2009Author: Stephen Bowen
The Essential Programs and Services (EPS) model is a target budget figure. It was originally meant to signify to average cost to educate children to...
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...
Bragdon Testimony in Support of LD 974 March 26, 2009
Date: March 26, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, testified in support of LD 974, An Act To Decrease the Automobile Excise Tax and Promote...
See This ResultKeeping The Promise of Real Property Tax Relief for Maine Families
Date: March 26, 2009Author: Tarren Bragdon
This presention accompanied Tarren Bragdon's testimony before the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation on March 26, 2009.
See This ResultPresention: 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 ResultCon Law Case Submission Form
Date: January 20, 2009Author: Arnold Clark
If you believe you have a Maine case that the Center for Constitutional Law should review, please click the link to open and review the guidelines...
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 ResultImproving Civic Education in Maine's Public Colleges and Universities
Date: November 18, 2008Author: Stephen Bowen, M.Ed
As important as it may be for college students to volunteer in their towns, at soup kitchens and homeless shelters - these activities are no...
See This ResultFISCAL SANITY Issue One: Maine Spends Too Much... But Where?
Date: November 12, 2008Author: J. Scott Moody
Maine state & local governments spend $8,139 for every man, woman and child in the state. The state alone spend $5,035 for each person; which ranks...
See This ResultAn Act To Decrease the Automobile Excise Tax and Promote Energy Efficiency
Date: November 1, 2008Author: The Maine Heritage Policy Center
This proposed legislation will cut Maine's high new vehicle excise taxes for all new vehicles, and eliminate sales taxes and excise taxes for the...
See This ResultMaine's Dwindling Private Sector Economy
Date: October 31, 2008Author: J. Scott Moody
The Private Sector share of Maine people's personal incomes is on a downward trend, reflecting the less receptive climate for private businesses...
See This ResultUPDATE: 16 Reorganization Plans and the Threat to School Choice
Date: October 24, 2008Author: Stephen Bowen
In July, we released a list of what we felt to be the 15 consolidation plans that posed the greatest potential threat to school choice. This updated...
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 ResultReforming Teacher Pay in Maine - Part 2 Making Alternative Teacher Compensation Systems Work
Date: September 2, 2008Author: Stephen Bowen, M.Ed.
The goals of any proposed change to current teacher pay systems must be clearly tied to a school district's objectives for student achievement. ...
See This ResultDistrict Consolidation and the Threat to School Choice: 15 Reorganization Plans to Watch
Date: July 10, 2008Author: Stephen Bowen
As Maine school districts work on consolidation, many towns offering school choice are considering new arrangements which would eliminate that...
See This ResultDirigo - More Costly and Less Effective than Ever
Date: June 25, 2008Author: Tarren Bragdon
The Dirigo Health program is a costly failure. The recent $57 - $72 million in tax increases to prop up Dirigo are a step in the wrong direction for...
See This ResultMaine People's Tax Burden Now The Highest Ever!
Date: June 9, 2008Author: J. Scott Moody
New figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the difference between the average tax burden and the Maine tax burden cost every man, woman, and...
See This ResultReforming Teacher Pay in Maine - Part 1: How Alternatives are Improving Student Outcomes
Date: June 9, 2008Author: Stephen Bowen, M.Ed.
Student outcomes are likely to improve with innovative teacher compensations systems which reward teachers for improving their classroom skills and...
See This ResultReorganization and the Threat to Maine's Tradition of School Choice
Date: May 19, 2008Author: Stephen Bowen, M.Ed.
School Choice, a popular "new" education options being explored across America, has been available in many Maine communities for generations. It...
See This ResultGovernor and Legislature, Heal Thyself Why the State House is a good place to look for budget savings
Date: March 25, 2008Author: Stephen Bowen, M. Ed.
With rich benefits, high office expense, duplication of services and dozens of staffers and advisors with six-figure compensations packages, there...
See This ResultSenator Strimling's Minimum Wage Proposal is Unnecessary and Destructive
Date: March 19, 2008Author: J. Scott Moody
The idea that Maine should have a separate, and higher, minimum wage than the federal standard is destructive for Maine's economy. The idea of...
See This ResultThe Silent Tax Revolt: Mainers Cross-Border Shopping in New Hampshire II
Date: March 18, 2008Author: J. Scott Moody and J Dwight
Maine, with one of the nation's highest tax burders, borders New Hampshire - which has one of the nation's lowest tax burdens, including no sales...
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 ResultTransparency - Shedding Light on Government Activities I: How Will Maine Afford Retiree Health Care Benefits for State Employees and Public School Teachers?
Date: March 6, 2008Author: J. Scott Moody
The best solution for Maine Taxpayers would be to reduce the promised level of retiree health benefits - a necessary step that many states have...
See This ResultMaine's Choice: Have Medicaid Take Care of the Truly Vulnerable or Give Away Medicaid to the Middle
Date: February 25, 2008Author: Tarren Bragdon
Governor Baldacci admits that Maine's Medicaid program is the most expensive in America, yet there is little momentum to concentrate this free...
See This ResultThe School Budget Validation Process: Empowering Voters, Achieving Savings
Date: February 11, 2008Author: Stephen Bowen, M.Ed.
As part if the school consolidation process, school budgets are presented to a town, those present vote, then the budget is put out to the citizens...
See This ResultTax Savings to Mainers Engaging in Cross-Border Shopping In New Hampshire
Date: January 24, 2008Author: J. Scott Moody and J Dwight
Maine shares a border with one American state, New Hampshire. This border repesents an incredible differential in terms of tax burden, state...
See This ResultWhy Taxes Matter
Date: January 2, 2008Author: J. Scott Moody
This paper explains in some detail the multiple reasons why taxes lower private spending, redirect private spending in unproductive ways, discourage...
See This ResultBeyond School District Reorganization: A Vision for Education Reform
Date: December 31, 2007Author: Stephen Bowen, M. Ed.
This is a detailed review of Maine's School Consolidation process, goals, barriers to consolidation, budgeting and spending adjustments needed as...
See This ResultMaine Medicaid Check Up Series Part III: Non-Elderly Adult Medicaid Spending
Date: December 7, 2007Author: Tarren Bragdon
Maine's Medicaid spending on non-disabled adults is one of the factors that add up to Maine Taxpayers funding the most expensive Medicaid program in...
See This ResultNew York's BOCES System: A Model for Maine?
Date: December 5, 2007Author: Stephen Bowen, M. Ed.
Did Maine's School Consolidation process need to be this difficult? New York's BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) were started by a...
See This ResultHow Many Mainers does it take to Fund One State Government Job?
Date: November 15, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
It takes 18 Mainers working in the private sector to fund one Maine state government job. This high number is due to low private sector wages, high...
See This ResultThe Mountain School at Winhall How A Small New England Community Saved Its School By Closing It
Date: November 14, 2007Author: Stephen Bowen, M. Ed.
The town of Winhall, VT closed their school and reopened it as a private school. The innovative process and striking outcome improvements are...
See This ResultMaine State Government Employment
Date: November 13, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
This study documents that Maine has some 23% more state employees, compared with our private employment levels, than the average America state. ...
See This ResultMaine's Laptop Program is Improving Student Writing? Not So Fast...
Date: November 1, 2007Author: Stephen Bowen, M,Ed.
Maine's program of providing laptop computers for eighth grade students appears to have improved their abilities to edit their work, and to write...
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 ResultIs Bigger That Much Better? School District Size, High School Completion, and Post-Secondary Enrollment Rates in Maine
Date: October 23, 2007Author: Stephen L. Bowen, M. Ed.
Reviewing a wide variety of factors, this study shows that Bigger is not always Better when it comes to School Districts. Read Mr. Bowen's report...
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 ResultCivic Education in the University of Maine System
Date: September 18, 2007Author: Hon. Stephen L. Bowen, M. Ed.
It is possible to earn a degree from a state university in Maine without taking any traditional American History, Government or Economics courses. ...
See This ResultTaxpayer Bill of Rights
Date: September 10, 2007Author: The Maine Heritage Policy Center
Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
This bill proposes to restrain the growth in state and local government by imposing expenditure limitations on state...
Savings Our Small School Is Privatization an Option?
Date: August 30, 2007Author: Hon. Stephen Bowen, M. Ed.
While state-mandated consolidation threatens small schools, there are alternatives available for communities determined to maintain their...
See This ResultAffordability, Accessibility or Priority? Defining and Understanding Maine's Uninsured
Date: August 28, 2007Author: Tarren Bragdon
In summary, Maine's uninsured are young, healthy, and/or without dependent children. They are a good insurance risk, but priced out of the market...
See This ResultHow Consolidation Threatens School Choice
Date: August 28, 2007Author: Stephen Bowen
As Maine school districts consolidate in an effort to gain efficiencies of scale, the longtime tradition of school choice is being threatened in some...
See This ResultThe Sinclair Act at 50 What History Tells Us about the Consequences of Consolidation
Date: August 23, 2007Author: Hon. Stephen L. Bowen, M. Ed.
Fifty years ago, Maine passed the Sinclair Act to consolidate smaller schools into larger systems to gain efficiency, improve quality and save tax...
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 ResultMaine's "Town Tuitioning" Program Milton Friedman's School Choice Ideal?
Date: July 31, 2007Author: Stephen Bowen
Families across America are fighting for school choice, and look at Maine's town tuitioning program as a successful model that has worked for more...
See This ResultMaine's Near-Universal Coverage for Children Makes SCHIP Expansion Unnecessary
Date: July 17, 2007Author: Tarren Bragdon and J. Scott Moody
Maine's heavy restrictions on private insurance coverage increases the cost for all families - which causes the state to spend more than necessary...
See This Result2007 Cost of Living Update: First Trimester
Date: June 19, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
The costs of utilities and housing in Portland are 26.3% and 34.5% higher (respectively) than US averages while Bangor is very near the US average. ...
See This ResultCommittee Tax Reform Plan not "Revenue Neutral"
Date: June 13, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
Changes and shifts between and among tax sources are not alway "revenue neutral," and can cost taxpayers in other ways - like increased federal...
See This ResultThe State Government "Gravy Train" An Analysis of Private versus State Government Compensation
Date: June 5, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody and Jason A. Fortin
Maine State Employees are highly paid, receive a very generous benefits package and retirement program that would be unsustainable for private...
See This ResultA Plan to Reform and Reduce Maine's Taxes
Date: June 5, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody and Bill Becker
Maine people need real tax relief, but instead keep getting offers of "reform" that is revenue-neutral.
Instead of picking around the edges,...
Maine's State and Local Tax Collections: Fiscal Year 2005 Update
Date: May 23, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
Maine's taxes are high, at the state and local levels. Spending is also high and growing and private-sector incomes are dwindling. This is a bad...
See This ResultMaine's Private Sector Share of Personal Income by County
Date: May 22, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
The Private Sector Share of Personal Income is a barometer of economic well-being. When measured by county, across states or across the nation, this...
See This ResultThe Sales Tax Compliance Burden
Date: May 18, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
Collecting tax revenue is an expensive process. Governments maintain huge building full of tax-paid employees to do it twelve months a year; but too...
See This ResultEducation Service Districts Hold the Key to a Consolidation Compromise
Date: May 8, 2007Author: Stephen L. Bowen
Maine has too many school districts, and several proposed plans to improve the situation, save tax dollars, preserve local control and ensure high...
See This ResultThe Government "Gravy Train" An Analysis of Private versus Public Sector Compensation (Modified to address Maine's proprietorships)
Date: April 17, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody and Jason A. Fortin
Maine government sector jobs have higher compensation packages than the average private-sector employment in the state. Is this because private jobs...
See This ResultThe Promise of Public Charter Schools: Closing Maine's Achievement Gap
Date: April 13, 2007Author: Hon. Stephen L. Bowen, M. Ed.
Charter Schools mix the independence and choice of private schools without the tuition; and have some successful examples operating in Maine. This...
See This Result2006 Cost of Living Update: 4th Quarter
Date: April 9, 2007Author: J. SCott Moody
This study reviews cost of living surveys in Portland and Bangor. Even though Portland is a small city, many costs are quite high. This study...
See This ResultMaine Medicaid Check Up Series Part II: Child Medicaid Spending
Date: April 5, 2007Author: Tarren Bragdon
Maine Medicaid is a critical, but must too costly, health care safety net for lower income Maine children. Through cost effective reforms, we can...
See This ResultMaine's Personal Income in 2006 Private Sector Continues to Shrink
Date: March 27, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
The distinction between private- and public-sector income is important because only the private sector creates new income. The public sector only...
See This ResultSmoke and Borders: How tobacco tax increases promote cross-border shopping
Date: March 6, 2007Author: J. Scott Moody
The double-edged sword of tobacco taxes cuts many ways in reality. The state counts on income from a product it wants buyers to avoid, and raises...
See This ResultEducational Service Districts in Maine: Western Maine Educational Collaborative
Date: February 27, 2007Author: Stephen L. Bowen
The Western Maine Education Collaborative is but one of many regional cooperative bodies across the state improving services to Maine schools while...
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 ResultEducation Service Districts Achieving school administrative cost savings while protecting local control and partental involvement
Date: January 25, 2007Author: Hon. Stephen L. Bowen, M. Ed.
In the midst of Consolidation Options, there is promise in exploring Education Service Districts (ESDs) as an advantage-laden option for Maine's...
See This ResultMaine Personal Income: An Analysis of the Private and Public Sector Components
Date: December 19, 2006Author: J. Scott Moody
Decades ago, Mainers earned above-average incomes, and had a small, hands-off state government. Today, Maine has a huge state government, heavy...
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 ResultThe Cost of Living in Maine
Date: September 28, 2006Author: J. Scott Moody
Taxation and state spending are important factors in determining an area's cost of living. Lowering these would lower the cost of living in Maine -...
See This ResultState and Local Sales Tax Collections - How Does Maine Compare?
Date: July 14, 2006Author: J. Scott Moody
Based on the four principles of tax reform (Transparency, Neutrality, Simplicity and Stability), Maine's Sales Tax get a D grade. It's a...
See This ResultHealth Savings Accounts: What they are, how they work and why they are good for Maine
Date: May 22, 2006Author: Tarren Bragdon
Health Savings Accounts provide an affordable health insurance option that works well for most, if not all, Maine individuals and families - young or...
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,...
See This ResultState and Local Individual Income Tax Collections - How Does Maine Compare?
Date: March 9, 2006Author: J. Scott Moody
This very detailed reports shows Maine's Income Tax structures and comparisons with other US states in a detailed series of charts and graphs. The...
See This ResultThe Savings Offset Payment: Dirigo Health's Questionable Funding Strategy
Date: March 7, 2006Author: Tarren Bragdon
The Savings Offset Payment is nothing more than an added tax on people with health insurance to fund the Dirigo plan. These "savings" are nearly...
See This ResultFinding a Solution to the Business Equipment Tax - Just Repeal the Tax.
Date: February 22, 2006Author: J. Scott Moody
The Business Equipment Tax (BET) is a terrible, counter-productive tax that punishes businesses for investing in capital equipment - the very source...
See This ResultState and Local Tax Collections - How Does Maine Compare?
Date: February 1, 2006Author: J. Scott Moody
In the last few decades, Maine has shifted from a low-taxed state with above-average incomes to a lower-income state with high taxes. This report...
See This ResultEight Challenges for Dirigo Health in 2006
Date: January 30, 2006Author: Tarren Bragdon
Dirigo Health is a failure. Enrollment is low, costs are high, the funding is controversial, hard to prove and quite unstable - and Dirigo hardly...
See This ResultSome Interesting Facts About Health Savings Accounts
Date: April 1, 2005Author: Tarren Bragdon
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) coupled with a high-deductible health insurance plan offer affordable health insurance coverage for Maine people. ...
See This ResultBuyer Beware! Considerations for Small Businesses Examining Gov Baldacci's DirigoChoice Health Plan
Date: February 1, 2005Author: Tarren Bragdon
DirigoHealth is a complex, expensive way for employers to offer health coverage for employees. Income verification forms and employee premiums and...
See This ResultDirigo Health: Higher Costs, Reduced Benefits
Date: April 1, 2004Author: Tarren Bragdon
DirigoHealth is a year old, and the enrollment is already falling due to the complexity, the rich benefits, the high costs, the uncertain funding,...
See This ResultCanadian Health Care NOT a Model for Maine
Date: October 1, 2003Author: Tarren Bragdon
Some in Maine want a "Single-Payer" health care system, believing that a taxpayer funded, government managed system will improve outcomes and lower...
See This ResultAn Overview of Dirigo Health
Date: February 1, 2003Author: Tarren Bragdon
This is an interesting Time Capsule look at Dirigo at its inception in 2003. Mr. Bragdon pointed out some flaws in the plan design, funding, premium...
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