New Overtime Rules Do More Harm Than Good
“Without question, these new regulations will hurt Maine workers more than help.” In 2014, President Obama issued an executive order to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to “modernize and […]
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Child Care Regulations Price Low-Income Families Out of Market
For many families with young children, especially single-parent households, child care is critical to being able work and earn a living. In 2015, an estimated 53,000 young children in Maine […]
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Thousands of Mainers Could See Premium Increases over 40%
Community Health Options (CHO), a Lewiston-based insurance provider, has asked the Maine Bureau of Insurance for a whopping 44.9% rate increase on their catastrophic level plan. CHO is one of […]
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Subsidies and Cost Shifting Won’t Power Maine’s Economy
Anyone remotely familiar with Maine’s economy knows it’s at a crossroads. Between 2004 and 2014, its cumulative economic growth ranks 49 out of the 50 states, a mere 21.8 percent. […]
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It Takes 1,500 Hours to Become a Barber in Maine
Your barber has to get government permission to cut hair, or risk jail time. In Maine, barbers must be at least 17 years old, have completed 10th grade or its […]
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Corn Ethanol, the Saga of Government Boodoggles and Impending Doom
When thinking about ethanol, I am reminded of a song my children listened to in the 90’s sang by Kermit the Frog, “It ain’t easy being green.” Selling corn ethanol […]
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Zoning Regulations Are Driving Up Portland Rents
Renting in Portland remains unaffordable for many of its residents. Instead of saving up money for new clothes, a new car, or a much deserved vacation, many Portlanders are trapped in […]
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Minimum Wage Advocates Disregard Evidence
As The Maine Wire has repeatedly shown here, here and here, proponents of a minimum wage increase in Maine seem more concerned with soundbites than responsible public policy. The Maine People’s […]
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Healthcare Price Disparity report on WGME
AUGUSTA (WGME) — A just released report from the Maine Heritage Policy Center shows considerable price variations between different hospitals in Maine for a lot common medical procedures.
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Rich States, Poor States: Maine Gets Richer, but Still Among the Poorest
In the recently-released ninth edition of the Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index rankings report, Maine earned its highest all-time rank of 38. While near the bottom […]
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