Conventional Wisdom Quiz

Test your assumptions underlying public policy in Maine. Choose the answer closest to your own, then check yourself below. 1. Percent of the Maine population in Fiscal Year 2010 that were State employees (in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial departments) ___ a) 1-4% b) 5-10% c) 11-15% d) 16-20% e) over 20% 2. Percent of…

Elections, Initiatives

No on Resort Casino Sign, November, 2003

Votes on citizen initiatives since 1911 The state constitution allows citizens to place issues on the statewide ballot by petition. In its first thirty-seven years, only six initiated bills qualified to be placed on a ballot; only two passed. In the thirty-eight years since 1971, when initiatives returned to popularity, fifty-five initiatives have been presented…

Abortion

Abortions Maine and US 1978-2012

Abortion has been the center of political conflict for much of the last one hundred years, but especially so since the United State Supreme Court ruled in 1973, in the case of Roe v. Wade, that prohibition of abortion is an unconstitutional invasion of a woman’s right to privacy. However, the Court did allow for…