The Maine Heritage Policy Center - Limited government, free enterprise and personal freedom for all Mainers

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Video: Cross Border Shopping Analysis

November 29, 2014 Posted by Matthew Gagnon - No Comments
As part of its ongoing analysis of the impact of Maine sales tax in driving Maine residents to engage in cross border shopping in New Hampshire, The Maine Heritage Policy Center released the following video, highlighting the real-world implications of sales tax policy.Here, MHPC evaluates the "retai ...
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The Free ME Initiative

October 22, 2013 Posted by J. Scott Moody - 1 Comment
Free ME is a bold initiative that will free Maine. It is a realistic strategy for spurring economic development statewide.Maine has the opportunity to become America’s premier destination for economic freedom and growth. Overall, Free ME is not a new concept. Free ME simp ...
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Maine versus New Hampshire XIV: The Personal Income Tax

Maine versus New Hampshire XIV: The Personal Income Tax

January 16, 2012 Posted by J. Scott Moody - No Comments
On January 18, the New Hampshire legislator is taking up a constitutional amendment that would permanently ban a personal income tax in the state. The good news for Maine is that it is not a ban on a sales tax . . . it is the lack of sales tax in New Hampshire that is currently costing Maine border ...
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Tax Reform in Maine

Tax Reform in Maine

November 10, 2011 Posted by J. Scott Moody - No Comments
On Wednesday I participated in the Subcommittee Meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation. Below are my remarks.  In particular, my suggestion for adopting a Business Enterprise Tax garnered some much needed attention.  Here are two links that delve more deeply into why Maine should adop ...
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Taxes Matter 24: Sales Tax Zappers are a Symptom of a Larger Problem

Taxes Matter 24: Sales Tax Zappers are a Symptom of a Larger Problem

September 10, 2011 Posted by J. Scott Moody - No Comments
Today the Kennebec Journal has a story about the rise of sales tax zapper computer programs that enable businesses to under-report their taxable sales and lower their sales tax bill.  Of course, the article casts Maine's state government as the victim of unscrupulous business owners: But some law ...
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Taxes Matter XXII: The Amazon Tax

Taxes Matter XXII: The Amazon Tax

July 14, 2011 Posted by J. Scott Moody - No Comments
Here is a great lesson on the negative effects of taxes on the economy.  Illinois recently enacted the so-called Amazon tax that extends their sales tax to out-of-state vendors.  From our sister, free-market think-tank in Illinois (Illinois Policy Institute): As news that Amazon.com is seeking to ...
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The Great Tax Divide: Maine’s Retail Desert vs. New Hampshire’s Retail Oasis

The Great Tax Divide: Maine’s Retail Desert vs. New Hampshire’s Retail Oasis

April 13, 2011 Posted by J. Scott Moody - No Comments
Hopefully by now you've seen my latest study "The Great Tax Divide."However, I do want to clear up a misquote in the article by the Portland Press Herald.  They state: His analysis says Maine lost $2.2 billion in retail activity from 1951 to 2007 because of its higher taxes. Unfortunately, this imp ...
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The Great Tax Divide: Maine’s Retail Desert vs. New Hampshire’s Retail Oasis

April 13, 2011 Posted by Maine Heritage Policy Center - 6 Comments
It is well-known that Maine and New Hampshire are polar opposites when it comes to tax policy.  Maine has one of the highest tax burdens in the country at 12.6 percent of personal income (6th highest) while New Hampshire has one of the lowest tax burdens at 8.7 percent of personal income (49th high ...
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Taxes Matter XX

Taxes Matter XX

November 17, 2010 Posted by J. Scott Moody - No Comments
Dr. Art Woolf over at Vermont Tiger has announced that he has updated his excellentstudy examining how the sales tax in Vermont has lead to Vermonterscross-border shopping in sales-tax free New Hampshire.  You can read the full study here (pdf) but below is the money-line: If Vermont’s border cou ...
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What Do 61 Percent of Maine Voters Know that the Tax Foundation Doesn’t?

What Do 61 Percent of Maine Voters Know that the Tax Foundation Doesn’t?

June 10, 2010 Posted by J. Scott Moody - No Comments
In an error-riddled blog, the Tax Foundation wonders why Maine voters ". . . delivered a blow to state income tax reform."  The Tax Foundation went on to blame the demise of tax reform on the work of special interest groups.  Really?Let's look at the facts.  The original bill, LD 1495, passed on ...
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