Maine can’t swap out property taxes for sales and tourist taxes without shifting the burden onto year-round residents and renters. Using current visitor spending, local tax rules, and recent legislative votes, this piece shows why the math doesn’t work, who really wins (non-resident and high-value owners), who loses (lower-income households and renters), and what realistic fixes look like—bigger homestead relief, a stronger circuit breaker, targeted second-home and luxury taxes, and smarter state budgeting focused
This November, Maine voters will decide on Referendum Question 1, a citizen-initiated bill that would require photo ID at the polls and change several absentee voting rules. Supporters say it will strengthen trust and bring Maine in line with other states and democracies abroad. Opponents argue it risks creating new barriers in a system that already delivers some of the highest voter turnout in the nation. Here’s what the proposal actually says, what would change, what wouldn’t, and why it matters in Maine.
This post explains Maine’s 2025 Ballot Question 2, which asks voters whether to adopt a red flag law. It breaks down how the proposal compares to the current yellow flag system, what supporters and opponents say, and what your vote will mean. Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash
Reaching out to your elected representatives can feel intimidating, especially if you're unsure where to start or worry about being ignored. In this guide, I share practical tips to help you confidently engage in the democratic process, from crafting effective messages to handling different responses. Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
While getting involved in your state's legislative process, you might feel stuck and unable to make an informed decision on a bill. In this post, I break down the steps you can take to get the clarification you need, from reaching out to local representatives and advocacy groups to leveraging online tools and attending public hearings.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of state politics? In this post, I share my personal journey navigating Maine's legislative process through LD 92, focusing on solar energy waste management. Learn how to overcome the intimidation of legal jargon, stay organized, and make your voice heard in the legislative process.
This post explores how Maine can break free from its reliance on foreign energy by strengthening its infrastructure, embracing innovative technologies, and reforming energy policies. The stakes are high—will Maine take action or continue to pay the price for inaction?
This post explores the potential risks and costs of offshore wind energy development along Maine's coastline, emphasizing the impacts on the state's tourism, fishing industries, and environment. It argues for a moratorium on offshore wind projects to allow time for evaluating more sustainable energy alternatives that better align with Maine's unique needs, including geothermal, bioenergy, and tidal energy.
In this blog, I dive deeper into Maine's state legislative and judicial elections and compare them with Germany's state parliament and merit-based judicial appointments.
In this article I provide a brief overview of all candidates that are up for Maine's 2024 Election for Congress and the issues they plan to take on if they stay or get elected for the Senate or House of Representatives.
In this post, I'm reviewing the questions that will be on the 2024 Referendum Election ballot for all Mainers. Additionally, I'm talking about the difference between elections in the U.S. versus Germany, as I think it's great that U.S. citizens can directly vote on state-level initiatives.
