Maine Heritage Policy Center

Maine Heritage Policy Center
Founder(s) Dick Jackson
Established 2002
Focus Maine government
Chairman Jinger Duryea
Chief Executive Officer Matthew Gagnon
Staff 6
Budget Revenue: $661,260
Expenses: $710,451
(FYE December 2013)[1]
Location

Portland, Maine

(43°39′28″N 70°15′10″W / 43.657672°N 70.252677°WCoordinates: 43°39′28″N 70°15′10″W / 43.657672°N 70.252677°W)
Address 4 Milk Street
Portland, ME 78701
Website www.mainepolicy.org

The Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC) is a think tank located in Portland, Maine that espouses free-market ideas.[2] According to its mission statement, the MHPC is "a research and educational organization whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise; limited, constitutional government; individual freedom; and traditional American values–all for the purpose of providing public policy solutions that benefit the people of Maine."[3]

Leadership

Matthew Gagnon is the Chief Executive Officer of MHPC.[2]

The board of directors includes Peter Anania, Timothy J. Bryant, John Chandler, Jinger Duryea, W. R. Jackson, Jr., Jeff Kane, James Ward, Thomas Connolly, and Neal Freeman.[4]

Initiatives

In 2006, MHPC was prominently involved in the unsuccessful campaign for the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) in Maine.[5]

In August 2011, MHPC 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]

One report at the time of his leaving said director Terry Bragdon "helped lead an organization that has played a major and often controversial role in policy debates over such hot-button issues as government spending, welfare reform and, most recently, Maine’s pension debt." The group has been criticized for publishing the salaries of state employees while refusing to release the names of the center’s donors.[8]

MHCP is a member of the State Policy Network (SPN).[9]

In summer 2013, MHPC 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 to was submitted to the State Policy Network.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Quickview data". GuideStar. See also "Charity Rating". Charity Navigator.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Moretto, Mario (August 20, 2014). "Maine native Matt Gagnon returns from DC to lead Maine Heritage Policy Center". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "About MHPC". Maine Heritage Policy Center. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Board of Directors". Maine Heritage Policy Center. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Miller, Kevin (October 16, 2009). "Is Maine ready for TABOR?". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Higgins, A.J., "LePage: Secret Video Reveals Poor Training, but not Fraud", 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’", 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. ↑ "Directory: Maine Heritage Policy Center", State Policy Network web page. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  10. ↑ Woodard, Colin, "Washington County residents have mixed reactions to plan to eliminate taxes", Portland Press Herald, December 5, 2013. The Guardian was a media partner in the reporting. Retrieved 2013-12-08.

External links