Maine Policy Institute

Maine Policy Institute MPI is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to expand individual liberty in Maine. Dedicated to a rebirth of prosperity and growth in Maine.

05/22/2026

"This is what fatigue looks like."

At an event this week, titled "What is Going to Happen?", Maine Policy Institute CEO Matthew Gagnon presented some data from a recent poll that demonstrate current sentiment among Maine voters about Janet Mills and where Maine is heading.
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05/22/2026

"When I witnessed firsthand when a boy was now vaulting against the girls, these girls . . . were now in tears before an event would start. They're trying to find any excuse not to compete."
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At the State House in April, Allen Cornwall, a former pole vault coach and official, testified in support of LD 2239, "An Act to Designate School Sports Participation and Facilities by S*x." After his testimony concluded, Cornwall explained to Maine Policy Institute why he supports the bill.

Per The Maine Wire, a top official in Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ office has recommended invalidating a citizen initiative that would require public school athletic teams, bathrooms, locker rooms and showers to be designated by s*x, placing the high-profile referendum in jeopardy just months before the November election.

Read the story by The Maine Wire here: https://www.themainewire.com/2026/05/maine-boys-on-track-to-be-allowed-full-access-to-maine-girls-locker-rooms-bathrooms-showers/
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05/22/2026

"Other states like Mississippi have turned things around with only modest increases in their budgets; we should be charting the course to do the same here in Maine."

2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nirav Shah for Maine recently joined Maine Policy CEO Matt Gagnon on WGAN Morning News to discuss his candidacy path and motivations, what separates him from other candidates, and his policy stances on various issues.

Listen to the full segment here:
https://wgan.com/morning-news/dr-nirav-shah-30/

Graham Platner — the gift that keeps on giving!
05/20/2026

Graham Platner — the gift that keeps on giving!

05/19/2026

"People want things to get done, and they actually don't really care what party does it."

News broke today that Governor Janet Mills has endorsed 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree for Governor, who recently joined Maine Policy CEO Matt Gagnon on WGAN Morning News to discuss her campaign, her stances on issues such as housing and energy, and more.

Listen to the full segment here:
https://wgan.com/morning-news/hannah-pingree-2/

In a viral clip from a recent podcast episode of "It's Open with Ilana Glazer," U.S. Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez predic...
05/19/2026

In a viral clip from a recent podcast episode of "It's Open with Ilana Glazer," U.S. Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez predictably opined that, "You can’t earn a billion dollars. You just can’t earn that. You can get market power. You can break rules. You can do all sorts of things. You can abuse labor laws. You can pay people less than what they’re worth. But you can’t earn that.”

If you think this is a painfully daft take, you are correct.

Under this view, great wealth is treated less as evidence of value creation and more as evidence of exploitation. If someone becomes extraordinarily successful, the assumption is that they did not earn it, and because they did not earn it, that money should be reclaimed for the good of “society.”

That view gets it exactly backward.

Read the full article by MPI Policy Analyst Montana Towers here:
https://mainepolicy.org/billionaires-are-not-the-problem/

05/18/2026

"I think we had a program that was not well-designed that cost ratepayers, and then we managed to anger the people who built it in the first place."

2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Angus King III joined Maine Policy CEO Matt Gagnon on WGAN Morning News to discuss his campaign, his stances on issues such as housing and energy, and more.

Listen to the full segment here:
https://wgan.com/morning-news/angus-king-iii/
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Vance had some very complimentary things to say about The Maine Wire - a project of Maine Policy Institute - with Editor...
05/18/2026

Vance had some very complimentary things to say about The Maine Wire - a project of Maine Policy Institute - with Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson and reporters Jon Fetherston and Seamus Othot all receiving recognition as Vance discussed MaineCare fraud, Medicaid abuse and government accountability.

We talk about the visit, the issue of fraud, and review the state of play in Maine’s gubernatorial race. Plus - the Bangor couple from Texas who came to Maine to escape climate change, only to discover people sleeping on their porch and leaving f***s behind.

Listen to the full episode here:
https://mainepolicy.substack.com/p/vance-in-bangor

05/14/2026

At his speech in Bangor today, Vice President JD Vance gave a nod to The Maine Wire - a project of Maine Policy Institute - as well as Maine Wire reporter Jon Fetherston and Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson for exposing fraud in Maine.

We're proud that the work we do, thanks to our generous supporters, can receive this level of recognition. Congratulations to Jon and Steve for receiving the credit that they deserve for all their courage and hard work!

Video: The White House
Photos: Garrick Hoffman Photography

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Post Office Box 7829
Portland, ME
04112

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