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April 08, 2008
Baldacci: Save My Failed Program!
AUGUSTA, Maine, Apr 08, 2008 (Bangor Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- -- Flanked by legislative Democrats and other supporters, Gov. John Baldacci on Monday held a Cabinet Room press conference to promote a bill aimed at restoring financial viability to his faltering DirigoChoice health insurance program.It seems the governor's 'no new taxes' pledge is a bit more nuanced than we thought. In his eyes, I guess, taxes are bad unless they're used to rearrange deck chairs on the sinking Dirigo health plan. Legacy over sound fiscal policy. I'm so glad my taxes are supporting a program that makes Baldacci feel good. Wouldn't want him to be sad, after all.The bill has strong support from majority Democrats, but faces an uphill battle against GOP lawmakers, many of whom view the program as a failed experiment.
"This is a fight worth having, for a program that is making a difference in people's lives," Baldacci said.
The bill, LD 2247, would raise money for the subsidized insurance program through two new sources. One would be a 50-cent tax increase on every pack of cigarettes sold in Maine and a commensurate tax increase on other tobacco products.
Posted by slublog at April 8, 2008 10:40 PM
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Comments
I also love how to make healthcare more "affordable" (which is what Dirigo was pledged to do) by taxing those of us who have insurance.
Posted by: downfleeced at April 9, 2008 08:20 AM