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April 21, 2008
Baldacci Breaks a Promise
Yeah, that no tax pledge? Just kidding!
AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER) -- Governor John Baldacci signed a bill Wednesday that will help pay to keep the Dirigo Health insurance program going. But the new taxes in that bill are upsetting some business owners.Insurance claims have also been taxed, but hey...think of that 1% of the state's population who rely on Dirigo. Surely it's not too much to ask for the many to meet the needs of the few, or the one (percent).The bill, which passed the legislature Tuesday, pays for Dirigo by doubling the tax on beer and wine, and by creating a new $4.00 per gallon tax on soda.
Representative Hannah Pingree, who sponsored the bill, says the new taxes are aimed at out-of-state manufacturers and distributors and will bring in more than $17 million for Dirigo.
"Looking at beer and wine taxes is my first priority whatsoever," Pingree told NEWS CENTER. "The first priority is, we have 18,000 people with health insurance, we have 700 small businesses, it's a great program, it's a national model and it's worth continuing."
Still, let's not lose sight of the major headline here - John Baldacci lied to the people of Maine and did something he claimed he would never do. All to save a program that is essentially a failure.
Posted by slublog at April 21, 2008 09:59 PM
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