Beverage tax foes air ad
Richmond convenience store owner Gary Emmons is the star of a television commercial put out by the folks who oppose taxes on beer, wine, soda and flavored water to pay for Dirigo Health.
"I don't think this tax could come at a worse time," Emmons said as the camera showed people buying flavored water in his store.
The ad is the opening salvo in what promises to be a hot referendum question on the Nov. 4 ballot. This ad urges "Yes on 1," which is a repeal of action taken by lawmakers earlier this spring.
Here's the question: "Do you want to reject the parts of a new law that change the method of funding Maine's Dirigo Health Program through charging health insurance companies a fixed fee on paid claims and adding taxes to malt liquor, wine, and soft drinks?"
Expect a vigorous fight from the other side as well, as they work to convince voters the taxes are necessary to preserve health coverage for those who rely on Dirigo.
The wording of the question is CONFUSING. When I first reafd the question, I wanted to vote NO.
The part about adding taxes to maltliquor, wine and soft drinks, caught my attention right away, and as i read it I thought 'a YES vote will add taxes and a NO vote will reject taxes.
I think better wording would have been "Do you want to reject taxes on malt liquor, wine and soft drinks, and fees on paid insurance claimss that fund The Dirigo Health Program
Posted by
Bill MillerSeptember 18, 2008 10:33 AM
I wouldn't care if it was 1 cent on a can, I do not want to support anyone's health care but my own and my family. I figured if this were to pass, I would pay an extra $660 a year in taxes. no no no, I could take that $660 and buy wood 0r oil for my widowed sister, or purchase food for Manna, or I could even pay my son's electric bill for 2 months, yes 2 only! I cannot believe that I am being asked to pay for someone's health costs when I have so many needs in my own family and I am already paying for health care for Maine Care recipients, please give us a break?
Vote YES on 1
Posted by
JoyOctober 27, 2008 04:24 PM
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