BY BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff writer

WATERVILLE — There is a policy clash between some members of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce over how to fund an insurance program for the state’s working poor and uninsured.

At issue is the organization’s decision to collect signatures for a petition that would repeal a new beverage tax needed to expand access to the state’s Dirigo health-insurance program.

At least two members who disagree with the chamber’s stance, the doctors Lisa and Eric Marrache, now threaten to quit the organization.

The so-called beverage-tax petition drive is organized by Fed Up With Taxes, a coalition of Maine businesses and organizations working to collect more than 55,000 signatures by July 17. If successful, it would freeze new taxes on beer, wine and soda and a 1.8 percent tax on health insurance claims, force a statewide vote in November to repeal them and in the meantime, stall funding for Dirigo.

The new law passed in April with the support of Governor John E. Baldacci and a majority of the House and Senate. Although it had been debated for days, it was passed at the end of the session without a public hearing.

“Our policy committee looked at the issue and made a recommendation to the board of directors to help gather signatures. We believe voters should decide if they want to have the tax increase or not,” said Chamber President Kimberly Lindlof.

“The general consensus was that the method used to pass the legislation, without a public hearing or opportunity for public input, in the middle of the night, was not right,” she said. “It does not mean we are for or against Dirigo.”