As we look forward to the new year, one of the big challenges facing our state is growing our workforce and keeping our economy on a roll.

The President has signed a historic tax reform into law. While Democrats claim the power of the seer akin to Nostradamus portending wild-eyed apocalyptic doom as a result of wage earners and wage payers keeping more of the fruits of their labors, in the real world of the real truth this new tax structure affords real tax relief to virtually every wage bracket in the U.S. Contrary to the liberal narrative, it is not theft for Americans to keep more of their wages.

Never has giving away more than $1 trillion been so difficult. Republicans in Washington have passed a massive overhaul of the US tax code. With a package that’s heavily tilted toward wealthy individuals and large, multinational corporations, the tax plan will further exacerbate income inequality. As if that wasn’t enough, the tax bill does a lot more.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is that time of year again, the time of year you all look forward to with ever-growing excitement. I’m speaking, of course, of my annual bold predictions, where I give you, dear reader, a foretelling of the coming year.

At this time of year, we gather with loved ones to celebrate Christmas, count our blessings, remember the past year and look forward to next year.

There’s really nothing like the holidays in Maine. They bring a certain spirit, one that’s as magical as the first snow. But it’s not the beautiful winter landscapes or the crackling fire that makes this such a wonderful time to be in Maine. No, the joy comes from the opportunity to spend these days surrounded by those we love, in a state we love to call home.

It’s time for the death penalty to be retired once and for all.

I suppose it should be no surprise, but the federal tax reform package -- officially dubbed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act -- continues to generate the most insane, outlandish reactions possible.

I have laid out four basic principles to guide the Legislature’s decision on how to pay for Medicaid expansion.

In 2010, one of the most encouraging things that I thought came out of the Tea Party movement was a focus on the issue of the budget deficit and the national debt. That year, candidates who promised to address those issues managed to gain 63 seats in Congress.

Proponents of Medicaid expansion have not been honest with the Maine people. They claim it’s free because the federal government will foot the bill for this massive expansion of welfare. Folks, it’s just not true.

Last week, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a landmark civil rights case out of Colorado that could have broad – and disastrous – national implications.

Reports that Maine's ranking U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has announced her decision to support the Senate version of the tax reform bill is welcome news to the hard-working taxpayers of Maine. We, the members of the Red County Caucus, would like to commend the Senator for this decision.

The first time I heard the term "net neutrality" was in the fall of 2008. I was working for a marketing agency that did public affairs work, and we had a client who was involved in the issue, which was beginning to gain some traction in Washington.

The federal government must do a better job to provide adequate resources for background checks on people purchasing firearms.

We of The Red County Caucus would like to remind U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine that the Constitution of the United States was written to protect the natural born rights of the individual.

Years ago, I worked for a woman just a few years older than I am. She was an experienced professional communicator who had extensive experience in Washington, including a stint working on Capitol Hill for a very influential congressman.

Mainers are generous people, and we are known to help our neighbors when there is a need. Whether it during a natural disaster, a holiday season or any time of the year, Mainers take care of Mainers.