Maine Heritage Policy Center
Encyclopedia
Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC) is a conservative think tank located in Portland, Maine
. 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. It has encountered controversy regularly in pursuing its goals.
distributed a videotape produced by conservative activist James O'Keefe
which "hint[ed] at" Medicaid
fraud.
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."
In early 2011, Bragdon angered some state employees for suggesting that many state retiree pensions were “lavish” compared with those in the private sector.
MHPC published "the salaries of all state employees while refusing to release the names of the center’s donors," according to a news report.
In 2006, MHPC was prominently involved in the unsuccessful campaign for the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) in Maine.
MHCP is a member of the State Policy Network
.
of Maine and Kelly Ayotte
of New Hampshire. He was also a party to a 2006 case in which he, as blogger, was sued by advertising firm Warren Kremer Paino (now WKP-Spier LLC) and successfully defended by Media Bloggers Association
and, among others, MBA general counsel Ron Coleman
.
Tarren (Terry) R. Bragdon, who in early 2011 was a leader of the transition team for incoming Republican governor Paul LePage
, left MHPC later in the year. Bragdon had been CEO of MHPC for 3-1/2 years. His plan upon departure was to move to Florida
to start a similar organization to MHPC there. Bragdon, with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Maine
and Husson University, respectively, was reported to have earned more than $100,000 a year. At the time of his departure, Bragdon said he had known Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Republican Florida legislators for several years. The new organization was said to be locating in Naples, Florida
.
Stephen Bowen, most recently director of the Center for Education Excellence at MHPC, was named by LePage as Maine Department of Education commissioner in 2011. Bowen, with a bachelor's degree in political science from Drew University
and a master's degree in education from George Mason University
, had earlier been a teacher and a legislator from Camden, Maine
2002-6.
In 2006, MHPC president and executive director was Bill Becker and its lawyer was Dan Billings. Becker was the founder of the MHPC, finance director for Peter Cianchette
run for Maine governor in 2002, and campaign manager for Republican gubernatorial hopeful Matt Jacobson
in 2009.
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. 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. It has encountered controversy regularly in pursuing its goals.
Initiatives
In August, 2011, MHPC and the Maine chapter of Americans for ProsperityAmericans for Prosperity
Americans for Prosperity is a Washington, D.C.–based political advocacy group. According to their literature, they promote economic policy that supports business, and restrains regulation by government...
distributed a videotape produced by conservative activist James O'Keefe
James O'Keefe
James E. O'Keefe III is a conservative American activist who has produced controversial audio and video recordings of public figures and workers in a variety of organizations...
which "hint[ed] at" Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
fraud.
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."
In early 2011, Bragdon angered some state employees for suggesting that many state retiree pensions were “lavish” compared with those in the private sector.
MHPC published "the salaries of all state employees while refusing to release the names of the center’s donors," according to a news report.
In 2006, MHPC was prominently involved in the unsuccessful campaign for the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) in Maine.
MHCP is a member of the State Policy Network
State Policy Network
The State Policy Network is a U.S. national network of free-market oriented think tanks focused on individual U.S. states. SPN is based in Arlington, Virginia.-History:SPN was founded in 1992 by Thomas A...
.
Staff
In August, 2011, Lance Dutson was hired as chief executive officer. Dutson, a Portland native, was most recently the spokesman for Maine House speaker Robert Nutting. Dutson, earlier, founded one of the state’s first political blogs, Maine Web Report, and also has served as an online communications consultant to U.S. senators Susan CollinsSusan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins is the junior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1996, she is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs...
of Maine and Kelly Ayotte
Kelly Ayotte
Kelly A. Ayotte is the junior United States Senator from New Hampshire and a member of the Republican Party. She earlier served as the Attorney General of New Hampshire.-Early life, education and career:...
of New Hampshire. He was also a party to a 2006 case in which he, as blogger, was sued by advertising firm Warren Kremer Paino (now WKP-Spier LLC) and successfully defended by Media Bloggers Association
Media Bloggers Association
The Media Bloggers Association is a United States membership-based, non-partisan voluntary association describing its activity as "supporting the development of 'blogging' or 'citizen journalism' as a distinct form of media"....
and, among others, MBA general counsel Ron Coleman
Ron Coleman (legal scholar)
Ronald David Coleman is a lawyer and legal blogger who is known for his work in the areas of First Amendment and intellectual property rights, especially pertaining to the Internet, and particularly in his role as author of the Likelihood of Confusion blawg...
.
Tarren (Terry) R. Bragdon, who in early 2011 was a leader of the transition team for incoming Republican governor Paul LePage
Paul LePage
Paul Richard LePage is an American businessman and politician who is serving as the 74th and current Governor of Maine. A Republican, he was previously mayor of Waterville from 2003 to 2011, and was a city councilor before that...
, left MHPC later in the year. Bragdon had been CEO of MHPC for 3-1/2 years. His plan upon departure was to move to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to start a similar organization to MHPC there. Bragdon, with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
and Husson University, respectively, was reported to have earned more than $100,000 a year. At the time of his departure, Bragdon said he had known Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Republican Florida legislators for several years. The new organization was said to be locating in Naples, Florida
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
.
Stephen Bowen, most recently director of the Center for Education Excellence at MHPC, was named by LePage as Maine Department of Education commissioner in 2011. Bowen, with a bachelor's degree in political science from Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
and a master's degree in education from George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
, had earlier been a teacher and a legislator from Camden, Maine
Camden, Maine
Camden is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,254 at the 2000 census. The population of the town more than triples during the summer months, due to tourists and summer residents. Camden is a famous summer colony in the Mid-Coast region of Maine...
2002-6.
In 2006, MHPC president and executive director was Bill Becker and its lawyer was Dan Billings. Becker was the founder of the MHPC, finance director for Peter Cianchette
Peter Cianchette
Peter Cianchette is a Maine businessman, politician and former United States Ambassador to Costa Rica.-Early life and education:Cianchette was born and raised in Pittsfield...
run for Maine governor in 2002, and campaign manager for Republican gubernatorial hopeful Matt Jacobson
Matt Jacobson
Matthew C. Jacobson is an American politician and business executive, currently serving as the President and CEO of Maine & Company, a private, non-profit corporation which aims to attract and grow Maine businesses...
in 2009.
Board of Directors
- a/o 8-2-2011
- Peter Anania, President, Anania & Associates
- John Chandler, Managing Partner, Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker
- Michael A. Duddy, Esq., Partner, Kelly, Remmel & Zimmerman; chairman of MHPC board
- Jinger Duryea, President, C. N. Brown Company
- Neal B. Freeman, Chairman, The Blackwell Corporation
- W. R. Jackson, Jr., Retired President, Pitt-Des Moines
- Jeff Kane, President, National Distributors
- Jean Ginn MarvinJean Ginn MarvinJean Ginn Marvin is an American politician prominentin the state of Maine. She represented Cape Elizabeth in the Maine House of Representatives from 1994 to 2000 as a member of the 117th, 118th, and 119th Legislatures...
, Innkeeper, Nonantum Resort; former legislator
Board of Advisors
- a/o 8-2-2011
- Joel Allumbaugh, National Worksite Benefit Group
- Deborah Dunlap Avasthi, HRH Northern New England
- Joe Bruno, Community Pharmacies
- David Crocker, Solicitor
- Ronald Drouin, Retired
- Scott Fish, As Maine Goes
- Susan Hamill, The Dette Company
- Philip E. Harriman, Lebel & Harriman
- Chet Jordan, Digital Architecture
- Lisa G. Martin, Manufacturers Association of Maine
- Mark McAuliffe, Apothecary By Design
- Jennifer Riggle, Germani & Riggle
- Mark Robinson, Robinson PR
Board of Adjunct Fellows
- a/o 8-2-2011
- Joe Crosby, Council on State TaxationCouncil On State TaxationThe Council on State Taxation is a state tax organization representing business taxpayers, noted by one prominent tax policy expert as the “most influential nongovernmental organization in the state tax policy arena.” COST is a non-profit trade association based in Washington, D.C. consisting of...
- James Frogue, Center for Health Transformation/Gingrich Group
- James Hamilton, For our Grandchildren
- Roy W. Lenardson, Strategic Advocacy
- John Mahon, University of Maine, OronoOrono, MaineOrono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
- Jon Reisman, University of Maine, Machias
- Margo Thorning, American Council for Capital Formation
- Wendy P. Warcholik, Public Choice Analytics for the U.S. States
- Joe Crosby, Council on State Taxation