Maine Policy Institute

Maine Policy Institute
FounderDick Jackson
Established2002; 23 years ago (2002)
FocusPublic policy research and analysis in Maine
ChairScott Wellman
Chief Executive OfficerMatthew Gagnon
Staff7
BudgetRevenue: $1,093,259 (2020)[1]
SubsidiariesThe Maine Wire
Formerly calledMaine Heritage Policy Center
AddressPost Office Box 7829
Portland, ME 04112
Location
Portland
,
Maine
Coordinates43°39′28″N 70°15′10″W / 43.6577°N 70.2527°W / 43.6577; -70.2527
Websitewww.mainepolicy.org

The Maine Policy Institute (MPI), formerly the Maine Heritage Policy Center, is a conservative free-market think tank located in Portland, Maine.[2] According to its mission statement, MPI is a "nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that conducts detailed and timely research to educate the public, the media, and lawmakers about public policy solutions that advance economic freedom and individual liberty in Maine."[3] The organization has an associated media outlet, The Maine Wire.

Leadership

Matthew Gagnon is the CEO of MPI.[2] As of April 2023, the organization's board of directors consisted of Scott Wellman (chair), Timothy Bryant, Susan Dench, Scott Forrey, Jeffrey Kane, Jason Oney, Christopher A. Pierce, Debra Plowman, Laurence Rubinstein, Amy Volk, James Ward, and director emeritus Neal Freeman.[4]

Activities

In 2006, MPI was prominently involved in the unsuccessful campaign for the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) in Maine.[5] In August 2011, MPI and the Maine chapter of Americans for Prosperity distributed a videotape produced by conservative activist James O'Keefe which "hint[ed] at" Medicaid fraud.[6][7]

MPI has been involved in policy debates over issues such as government spending, welfare reform, and Maine's pension debt. The Bangor Daily News reported that critics of the organization have faulted MPI for publishing the salaries of state employees while declining to release the names of the organization's donors.[8] MPI is a member of the State Policy Network.[9]

In 2013, MPI initiated a tax proposal for Maine's poorest area, Washington County. According to the proposal, "residents and businesses would cease to pay state income taxes or collect sales taxes until economic conditions reach the statewide average and stay there for three years running." A grant proposal supporting the initiative was submitted to SPN.[10]

Since 2013, MPI has published healthcare transparency data on the website CompareMaine.org. The website lists, by Maine hospital, how much different procedures cost for patients.[11]

MPI has opposed the Common Core State Standards Initiative and called for the Maine Legislature to allow parents to opt their children out of standardized tests.[12]

In 2014, MPI laid out an agenda for conservative policy-making in Maine. It included a push for welfare reform, making Maine a right-to-work state, a change in Maine's constitution to see the attorney general, secretary of state and state treasurer popularly elected, and tax cuts.[13]

In 2016, the organization published its Piglet Book, a book chronicling wasteful government spending in Maine. The organization wrote that while Maine has made some progress, "state spending is still far larger than it should be, or would be if only Augusta took our spending seriously." The Piglet Book had last been published in 2012.[14]

MPI opposes ranked choice voting.[15]

References

  1. ^ "The Maine Heritage Policy Center - GuideStar Profile".
  2. ^ a b Moretto, Mario (August 20, 2014). "Maine native Matt Gagnon returns from DC to lead Maine Policy Institute". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  3. ^ "About Maine Policy Institute". Maine Policy Institute. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Board of Directors". Maine Policy Institute. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  5. ^ Miller, Kevin (October 16, 2009). "Is Maine ready for TABOR?". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  6. ^ Higgins, A.J., Secret Video Reveals Poor Training, but not Fraud"[dead link‍], Maine Public Broadcasting, 08/11/2011. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  7. ^ Russell, Eric, "Secret video hints at Medicaid fraud potential; critics say it’s ‘gotcha’ without the ‘gotcha’" Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, Bangor Daily News, Aug. 11, 2011 11:26 a.m. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  8. ^ Miller, Kevin (April 5, 2011). "LePage adviser heading to Florida". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Mission". State Policy Network. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  10. ^ Woodard, Colin (5 December 2013). "Washington County residents have mixed reactions to plan to eliminate taxes". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  11. ^ Ryden, Tory (April 19, 2016). "Maine Policy Institute calling on more transparency in Maine hospitals". WCSH. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  12. ^ McCrea, Nick (May 12, 2015). "Standardized testing opt-out debated in Maine legislative hearing". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  13. ^ Moretto, Mario (November 20, 2014). "New leader of Maine conservative group aims to build upon Election Day wins". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  14. ^ Miller, Kevin (February 4, 2016). "'Piglet Book' reports Maine government spending is 'far larger than it should be'". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  15. ^ Dunat, Max (July 31, 2020). "Anti-Ranked-Choice Campaign Defends Status Quo". Reason. Retrieved 27 August 2020.