House Minority Leader Josh Tardy, R-Newport, put out a statement late Wednesday saying the "Dirigo bureaucracy" will fight to keep new taxes on beer, wine and soda in place as a funding source for Dirigo Health.

He said efforts to repeal the taxes -- which will most likely include a November referendum question -- may well succeed. On Tuesday, a group called Fed Up with Taxes turned in more than enough signatures to get a question on the November ballot.

"The idea of increasing taxes when state residents are deeply worried about heating oil costs, gas costs, food costs and a shaky economy strikes many folks as senseless," Tardy said. "We already have the second-highest tax burden in the nation."

He continued:

"If the taxes are repealed, Dirigo would survive by continuing its current funding system," he said. "But the Dirigo bureaucracy wants these new taxes, so I think we need to be prepared for a bruising battle over this issue right up to Election Day. I expect to see a lot of disinformation and deceptive advertising."