Maine Heritage Policy Center

Latest Articles

Three-city news war

Press releases
The Portland Press Herald is really under the gun right now, from within and without its walls.
By JEFF INGLIS | September 21, 2011

How the GOP rammed through huge changes in Maine’s health-care system

Republicans unleashed
When Governor Paul LePage boarded a plane for an unscheduled Jamaican vacation in early April, Maine moderates and progressives breathed a sigh of relief.
By COLIN WOODARD | June 09, 2011

Back from vacation

Gubernatorial Scorecard
Governor Paul LePage recently returned from a Jamaican vacation, which provided fodder for some political controversy, and probably helped him avoid getting into new messes.
By PORTLAND PHOENIX STAFF | May 04, 2011

Progressive nightmare

With their values under attack, many Mainers view this legislative session as the stuff of bad dreams
The sky is actually falling for Maine progressives, whose core values are under attack in Augusta.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | March 16, 2011

Can Maine's Democrats come back from the dead?

Or have they been Republicans for too long?
Let's skip over several huge problems the Maine Democratic Party faces as it tries to recover from its historic losses in November, when for the first time since 1964 the Republicans took control of both houses of the Legislature and the governorship.
By LANCE TAPLEY | January 19, 2011

Looking back on 2010: Maine goes red

Republicans take over Augusta, Portland cops go online, gay rights stay center stage, and more!
There were big wins, big defeats, encouraging signs, and disappointments. Here's a look at what Maine enjoyed — and endured — in 2010.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 22, 2010

Blue city in a red state

Election wrap-up
Maine changed last Tuesday. By a slim margin, citizens voted to send Tea Party-backed Paul LePage to the Blaine House next year.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | November 11, 2010

A call to action

Press releases
In this campaign season of railing against government and the status quo, do you actually know much about all the different things your government does?
By JEFF INGLIS | June 02, 2010

Tanked

A few guppies short
The term "think tank" looks as if it signifies something impressive.
By AL DIAMON | March 17, 2010

Instead of cuts: guts

Raise taxes on the rich? Only one candidate says ‘yes’?
Let’s assume, reader, that you’re concerned about economic and social justice. For those in real need — people who are poor, sick, old, mentally ill, addicted, disabled — you want decent care. You’re concerned, too, about proper funding of schools, community colleges, and university campuses.
By LANCE TAPLEY | January 06, 2010

Future wounds

Brains, spines, and guts wanted
Welcome to the 2009 post-election trauma center.
By AL DIAMON | November 11, 2009

The 12th Annual Muzzle Awards

A look at the dishonorable enemies of free speech and personal liberty in New England.
With the era of repression and secrecy fostered by George W. Bush and Dick Cheney finally over, this should be the best of times for freedom of expression, open government, and civil liberties. Yet change comes slowly.
By DAN KENNEDY | July 10, 2009

Stickin' it to the poor

Right wing celebrates state budget
The Maine Heritage Policy Center, a right-wing Portland think tank, has been bragging in news releases about how state leaders have followed its advice, approving a two-year state-government budget that, among other cuts, slashes school aid, programs for the needy, and state-employee pay.
By LANCE TAPLEY | June 03, 2009

Here it comes again

Gov. Baldacci's stupid approach to tax reform.
Is it possible to tax stupidity? If so, Maine could generate enough revenue to eliminate the income tax, property tax, excise tax, inheritance tax, and sales tax.
By AL DIAMON | March 04, 2009

I wanna know all about you

Politics and other mistakes
Here at the Hernia Hill Institute of Unquantifiable Econometrics and Daytime Drinking, internationally renowned scholars are constantly thinking about Maine's fiscal crisis. Except during happy hour.
By AL DIAMON | February 18, 2009

The wrong man for hard times

State House Democrats need to stand up to the governor
Most Democrats see Barack Obama’s inauguration as a clear-cut, welcome turn to the left.
By LANCE TAPLEY | February 04, 2009

Baldacci raids the cookie jar

The governor’s secret Dirigo Health bailout
Under the American system of government, the legislative branch is supposed to decide how your tax money is spent, but . . .
By LANCE TAPLEY | October 15, 2008

Inarticulate speech of the heart

Politics and other mistakes
Incoherent politicians are as common as criminals. Although not quite as beneficial to society.
By AL DIAMON | December 05, 2007

Genuine sense of outrage

Politics and other mistakes
Democratic US Representative Tom Allen is being accused by editorial writers and other whack jobs of demeaning the political process.
By AL DIAMON | August 29, 2007

Did she jump or was she pushed?

Politics and other mistakes
There's stuff that's illegal, but not necessarily unethical.
By AL DIAMON | August 02, 2007

Suspended animation

Politics and other mistakes
Cue the ominous music.
By AL DIAMON | July 02, 2007

Right-wing think tank makes argument for socialism

Confusion
The conservative Portland-based Maine Heritage Policy Center wonks try so hard to revile everything public and praise everything private that they risk tripping over their floppy bow ties.
By LANCE TAPLEY | April 25, 2007

Letters to the Portland editor: February 2, 2007

Peace needs our help
In addition to my flip comment that I personally didn’t have a clue about how to solve the horrific human tragedy we call the Iraq War, I provided Sara Donnelly with several comments in our ten-minute conversation that were constructive potential solutions.
By LETTERS TO THE PORTLAND EDITOR | January 31, 2007