AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci is urging Mainers to vote against repealing the new taxes on beer, wine and soda, saying the revenues are needed if Maine is to ever provide universal health coverage.
Those new taxes, as well as taxes on paid insurance claims, were enacted last spring as a way to fund the state-subsidized Dirigo health insurance program. Maine voters will decide whether to repeal the taxes under a people’s veto question on Tuesday’s ballot.
In his weekend radio address, Baldacci acknowledges that people are fed up with taxes. But he says there are hardworking Mainers who also are fed up with not having quality health care coverage.
The Democratic governor says the law containing the beverage tax will decrease the existing tax on health claims.
Republicans have been highly critical of the expanded taxes and contend they would prop up a failed state program.
On 11/1/08 at 3:24 PM,
pcme2000 wrote:
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Thats it Gov. John Baldacci is loseing it. if he wants to pay higher tax on soda and etc he is always free to pay more. But why should the rest of the State have to pay more!
On 11/1/08 at 5:06 PM,
DavidH wrote:
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Just what do you expect from the governor. His next two year budget is in serious trouble and he can't afford to lose anymore revenue period. He will cut from the budget hourly workers. You know the ones you meet an BMV or somewhere else you need to interact directly with the state. What he needs to take a longer look at is the $70,000 plus crowd. The unfortunate part of that is they are the ones that interact with the governor. Necessarily they will not recomment cutting many of their own. Cut a few of them and you have more money for the hourly folks. Also what will be cut is those areas that will cause people to scream. Enough screaming an the legislature will say see we need to raise taxes to save these fine programs. The big question now is will this go down in history as the Baldacci MIs-administration?
On 11/1/08 at 5:35 PM,
leumas wrote:
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Taxing BEER ? What the hell. That would be against my religon and I demand a separation of church and state! Beer is health food that keeps hearts pumping right on up there into the 90's. Mr Bald.... needs to concider a "beer procurement allowance and distribution plan" that would hire college kids (over 21) to distribute free beer to grandma and grandpa. Damn again, just lookie here I actually am a "grandpa" to my own shock and amazement! Yes Maine needs CHANGE, and free beer is the answer. The 5 cent bottle bill thing can be ditched and the new bottle bill would read like this, "we gave you 100 full beers if you can't produce anymore than 98 empty bottles then you only get resupplied with 98 new full beers". Taxing beer is like taxing mothers milk fed to babies, it's just wrong. This bald.... guy sounds like a democrat , communist, or alqueida operative terrorist cell. Where did you floks find him? Crawling under the fence between the United States and Saudi Arabia?
On 11/1/08 at 7:02 PM,
DougIII wrote:
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Sorry Gov, I'm tired of being nickeled and dimed to poverty by the state! VOTE YES!!!!!!
On 11/1/08 at 7:34 PM,
leumas wrote:
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I moved to Florida.... no state income tax and no frost......scuze me while I peal a papaya. And have another untaxed shipyard beer!
On 11/1/08 at 7:34 PM,
getreal wrote:
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What would we expect? Old Baldy is a Democrat and just like ANY Democrati it's taxes, taxes, and more taxes. Just wait until Obama, House Democrats, and our Democratic Maine government, wait until all these idiots have full control. We are fast moving toward a European like society. Enjoy our new and improved tax burden(s).
On 11/1/08 at 7:39 PM,
getreal wrote:
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Hey do your patriotic duty and pay taxes on your beer, soda, food, smokes, property, products, gas, and whatever else they want us to pay on! Here's and idea I think we need an air or breathing tax! If you inhale your tax burden should be .50 cents per breath! It's time to stand up and be true Americans! I honestly think it's time for another Tea Party!
On 11/1/08 at 8:52 PM,
MaineCitizen_too wrote:
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I think it would have better luck if the referendum took out the statement regarding a tax on paid healthcare claims. If it is meant to lower taxes on current healthcare claims, it is confusing for those unaware. Also, would a company actually drop its rates if taxes were dropped?
I think we pay too much in health insurance as is, and having to help pay for the Dirigo program does not help. Some people’s pay goes into poverty level after paying health insurance and state programs drop people with a high enough income before deductibles, even if they are in assistance levels after paying for health insurance. Is the state saying if you drop your health insurance you could pay for everything, so those people should drop their health insurance coverage; therefore, adding to the list of people uninsured? Those same people cannot go on Dirigo because their jobs offer a health insurance.
I also know people who have dropped insurance because of the cost of the program versus the service they receive.
Last question, how do they intend or expect to create a universal plan when they created such a limited service?
On 11/1/08 at 10:56 PM,
Tikitorch wrote:
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WHO CARES WHAT BALDACCI WANTS... His budget and schemes got us in this mess!
On 11/2/08 at 5:53 AM,
safedman wrote:
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Want us to pay another TAX? Drop a program that isn't working anf lining the pockets of the undeserving.
On 11/2/08 at 6:36 AM,
Coolfusion wrote:
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Hey Guv'nah.. if you want to balance the Dept. of Education budget, why not recind the $1,600,000 illegally purchased of the mansion for the president of the Maine Maritime Academy. For that matter, why not cut the budget from $8,000,000 to maybe $2,000,000 saving $6,000,000 which is mostly a subsidy for out-of-state students.
On 11/2/08 at 7:08 AM,
fllen44 wrote:
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Maine seems to be the 'TAX ME STATE'. To think I was considering a move to your state in retirement..........'NO THANKS' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On 11/2/08 at 9:05 AM,
centralmaine wrote:
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When there is not any income to tax.... and people can't afford their property taxes any more.... start taxing necessities and simple pleasures at the rate of pennies at a time and perhaps no one will notice a mere $75,000,000 missing from the economy every year. Brilliant!!
On 11/2/08 at 6:57 PM,
UnhappyTaxpayer wrote:
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Sorry guv but I am voting yes on this. We taxpayers have had enough of your antics and feel it is time for this to stop. Maybe we will get lucky and Dirigo Health will be shut down. By the way, if you want to save us some oney, cut your personal staff by 80%. This would be a good start.
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