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Editors Note: This section detailing the rise of Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC) and its major purpose of promoting the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) will be posted when available. For now, this sketch provides some interesting background information. *** 1996-2002: Ronald Trowbridge Comes to Maine MHPC was founded by Ronald Trowbridge, a long time senior officer at Hillsdale College in Michigan, the "Harvard of conservative schools" (take this fascinating campus tour with Trowbridge). At least as early as 1996, Trowbridge likely connected with Grover Norquist, the founder of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). Norquist was published in Hillsdale's Imprimis, a monthly newsletter that was part of Trowbridge's responsibilities as Vice President for Public Affairs. Trowbridge left Hillsdale after a tragic scandal at the institution that made national headlines. He first surfaces in Maine in 2001 listed as the president of the Maine Public Policy Institute (MPPI). MPPI was incorporated in the state in July, 2001 and reported $35,290 in total revenue for that year in the first tax filing dated October, 2002. The treasurer, Thomas Mead, is listed alongside Trowbridge and received $31,250 plus $1,005 in health insurance benefits in compensation for providing 20 hrs/week in services. Not long after this, the polls closed for the 2002 elections leaving Republicans victorious in many state capitals. In the wake of this success, Norquist outlined his new goals to Denver Post reporter James Aloysius Farrell. "We are trying to change the tones in the state capitals - and turn them toward bitter nastiness and partisanship," Norquist said. MHPC Rises from the Cianchette Campaign Meanwhile, Maine was not one of the state-level Republican successes. Peter Cianchette, the GOP candidate for Governor, lost to Democrat John Baldacchi. Apparently, this signaled an opportunity for Trowbridge. At or around this time, he decided to leave MPPI and begin a new, apparently similar organization. The new group, MHPC, was incorporated the following month. The IRS Form 1023 application for not-for-profit status is dated a month later, January 20, 2003. In the 2003 IRS return, Thomas Mead, too, is listed on the board as treasurer. Unlike MPPI, he received no compensation for his one hour per week duties. Trowbridge seemed to see immediate fundraising success with MHPC raising $158,419 in total revenues for the unknown group. In time, much of the staff of the failed Cianchette gubernatorial campaign became MHPC staff. Apparently, the first hire was the campaign's former finance director, Bill Becker. The first tax return lists Becker as the secretary/Executive Director and his starting compensation as $67,000. Where did this money come from to get this new organization off to a running start? Did Trowbridge reach out to see if Norquist wanted to find funding for this new crew to carry out his state-focused project in Maine? MHPC does not disclose the sources of its funding publicly, so there is no way to tell. Since, Trowbridge left Maine in 2005 and is now living in Texas. He is listed alongside Grover Norquist at a conservative think tank there. NEXT: 2002-2004 MHPC's Original Mission & the Start of TABOR *** |
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