Protect Health Coverage for Families in Maine
Question One on the November ballot puts affordable health care at risk for over 50,000 children and adults in Maine.
The ballot question asks Maine voters to repeal certain taxes on beer, wine and soda. These taxes – only pennies
in added cost – were approved by the Maine Legislature in April 2008 to help fund the DirigoChoice program. The taxes are
directed at the companies that distribute beer, wine and soda.
A group has been working to repeal this critical funding for health coverage. This group is funded by large out-of-state
distributors of beer, wine and soda. As a result of its efforts, Question One on the November 4th ballot asks voters to undo
the law that adds these new beverage taxes to support health care for Maine people. The added taxes amount to pennies -
an extra penny for a glass of wine, 3 extra pennies on a bottle of beer and 4 extra pennies on sugared drinks.
Taking health insurance away from Maine kids and their hard-working parents isn’t what Maine is all about! The health
of Maine children is worth more than a few pennies on beer, wine, and soda. In fact, this is a fair and reasonable way to fund
affordable health coverage for small businesses and Maine families.
Maine Equal Justice and MAIN urge you to vote ‘NO’ on Question One!
Maine has been a leader in extending health care coverage to people without insurance.
If these taxes are repealed:
- The funds necessary to protect health care for 18,000 Maine children, hardworking adults, and small businesses will not be
available;
- The costs of coverage for an additional 40,000 who are not able to purchase health insurance through their employers will
increase;
- DirigoChoice will not be able to accept new individual or business members; and
- Current DirigoChoice members may lose their health care coverage if the program closes.
Now is not the time for Maine to go backwards. We need to protect the gains that we have made in providing health
care for Maine people.
Vote ‘NO’ on Question One!
The Health Coverage for Maine Coalition is working hard to get its message
out to voters. Maine Equal Justice is a member
of this coalition.
Learn more
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