Martin criticizes KJ’s attack on Dirigo plan

The Kennebec Journal wrote an editorial today criticizing Democrats in the Legislature for adding in new beer and wine taxes late at night without a public hearing.

Tuesday night, lawmakers approved a $0.54 per gallon tax on beer, $0.65 per gallon tax on wine, $0.42 per gallon tax on soda to pay for the hurting Dirigo health care program. Click here for the KJ’s coverage.

The editorial stated: “There may very well have been strong arguments to be made about the need for sin taxes…. But sadly, those arguments were never made in a public forum. The public couldn't respond to the proposal. And the result was a last-minute tax increase foisted on Maine consumers.”

At the end of the editorial, they suggested that a taxpayer rebellion could be on the way.

“In the old days, that was called "taxation without representation."

We're waiting for someone to organize a mass dumping of beer, wine, flavored water and soda into the Kennebec.”

The editorial infuriated Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, who responded with a press release scorning the KJ’s editorial board.

How could they be so insensitive to the environment?

His statement began: “The head of the KJ’s Editorial Board used to serve as a lobbyist for Maine Rivers who advocated for the protection of our natural resources. I am shocked that their board would be encouraging people to pollute our rivers with beer and soda,” Martin said.

In the rest of the release he defended the Legislature’s decision. Maine lawmakers have a lot of tough decisions to make, he said.

The Legislature doesn’t make big decisions in the night, Martin said. They make them during the day too, but the sessions are long toward the end.

Still, the public is always invited to watch.

“There is a clear connection between raising the excise tax on beer, wine, and soda and lower health care costs. This point and the legislature’s plan to fund Dirigo are supported by Governor Baldacci’s bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care as well as organizations like the American Diabetes Association, Maine Medical Association, Maine Insurance Companies, Maine Hospital Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Students Against Drunk Driving, and all others who are concerned about the health of Maine people.

“It is unfortunate that the KJ’s editorial board missed this important point. Furthermore, the board should ask the beer, wine, and soda lobby why they are so against a modest increase in the excise tax now, when they were the ones suggesting that the legislature increase the sales tax on beer, wine, and soda up to ten percent instead. That kind of tax increase, which lawmakers rejected, would have had a stronger impact on consumers and businesses.”

The KJ wasn’t the only one critical of the Dirigo plan. Senate Republicans weren’t pleased either.

The measure passed along party lines in both chambers.

Senate Republican Leader Carol Weston said in a release: “In an effort to save a program, which from the beginning has failed to meet the promises it made, Democrat leadership has taken borrowed money, and raised taxes – two things they promised not to do during the budget debate. Once again the Democrats have used their position in the majority to increase the tax burden of Maine citizens.

“Mainers already pay the second highest insurance premiums in the country and the tax increases passed last night will only drive our premiums higher. Some have said we are leaders in the insurance industry unfortunately for the people of Maine we are leading the charge to the back of the pack.”

The measure, sponsored by House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, originally sought to increase the cigarette tax, but Sen. Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford, would not support this. Her vote was needed to pass the bill.

Still, the amended bill, “(I)s good news for the thousands of Maine people and businesses that rely on Dirigo for quality affordable health care, and for the tens of thousands of Maine people in the private market who will see their rates go down,” said Pingree in a release. “Maine is a national leader in health care initiatives that protect consumers and ensure quality coverage, and this bill will keep our state moving forward.”