Michael Finley of E.Vassalboro, ME The pigs feeding at the trough will oink the most in indignation.report abuse

pbh444 of Portland, ME Although there will only be a NEW soda tax of

4 cents on a can of soda,
24 cents on a six pack of soda,

(Soda-New tax of 42 cents per gallon= 42/128 ounces = $.0032/ounce)

and an INCREASE in beer tax of

18 cents in a six pack of beer,

(Beer-Increased tax of 29 cents per gallon= $.29/128 ounces = $.0023/ounce)

and INCREASE wine tax of

9 cents in a bottle of wine,

(Wine-Increased tax of 35 cents per gallon= $.35/128 ounces = $.0027/ounce)

Thus, it is probably only fair that these new taxes be spread across all the tax payers in Maine by increasing the income tax. A new increase in soda, beer and wine of a few cents here and there, probably less than we drop in a jar, is too much.report abuse

Chris of Harpswell, ME Medical providers oppose the repeal petition because Dirigo pays medical providers at the same high rates as private insurance, which is ridiculous for a poor state like Maine to be squandering that kind of money. The state could probably cover 4 low-income residence on Medicaid (Maine Care) for the price of 1 on Dirigo, because the federal government reimburses the state $2 for every $1 the state spends on Medicaid and Medicaid pays out at much lower rates.

However since medical providers and their corporate allies don't make much on Medicaid patients, if anything, they want the "big bucks" Hannah Pingree (D-upstate) has promised them with higher Dirigo taxes. It's especially shocking to see the corrupt AARP opposing the petition but apparently they love to see the state squander the taxpayers funds on Dirigo.report abuse

Zachaeus of Winthrop, ME They keep increasing the tax rates. That does not mean the tax receipts will go up proportionally. That is a concept most politicians cannot grasp. Remember George Mitchell and his luxury tax on high end boats. The only thing it did was put boat workers out of work.report abuse