Fed up with Taxes begins ad campaign

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

Fed up with Taxes, the group behind the people’s veto on the new beverage tax, has launched its ad campaign.

The ads chip away at the confusion that could be caused by the ballot question, which requires voters to vote yes if they don’t want the tax.

Both take aim at the Legislature, accusing lawmakers of raising taxes every time a new program comes along.

Neither mentions that the newly passed beverage taxes will support Dirigo, the state’s health insurance program.

A radio ad is called “Yes means reject”. In the ad, a woman explains to a man why a “yes” vote means a rejection of the tax.

The man says: “Now wait a minute, I’m fed up too. So if I’m against this tax, and I want to reject it, I vote yes?”

The woman responds: “Yes! Yes on Question 1.”

The man later says: “Wow, trying to confuse us huh? But I get it now.

The television ad takes a different approach, not mentioning the beverage tax or Dirigo, but instead just telling voters to vote yes if they are fed up with taxes.

In the ad, a forester explains how these days it’s tough to make a living with the cost of energy.

“Our Legislature has been unable to prioritize,” he says. “It seems like every time they turn around they have a new idea and they want to increase taxes to fund their new idea. It’s breaking the back of the people in Maine.”

Click here for the radio ad and here for the television ad.

JESSICA ALAIMO is a PolitickerME.com Reporter and can be reached via email at jessica.alaimo@politickerme.com.

Comments

VOTE NO ON QUESTION 1

posted by Christopher M. Doyon

Dear Citizens --

Jessica is exactly correct when she points out that what these big business PACs don't want you to know is that you will be voting to cut funding for some 15,000 fellow Maine Citizens who rely on Dirigo Health for their coverage.

This is not about some trick the Legislature pulled on the People of Maine, this is about greedy big business not wanting to pull their weight. This is, on the consumer level - a MICROSCOPIC tax that you will not even notice. And it was passed by YOUR Legislature in an open and transparent manner. DO NOT BE TRICKED BY BIG BUSINESS ! Vote NO on Question 1.

SINCERELY YOURS -- Christopher M. Doyon

Candidate For Maine Legislature
Representative - District 55

---------------------
DOYON '08 Campaign

www.DoyonForLegislature.info

10/05/08 7:49 am

Wrong, Christopher

posted by Anonymous1234

The 70 million dollar tax is not microscopic/

You are also wrong about the demise of the dirigo program. The funding will revert to the old method. not disappear.

You are also wrong about the transparency, there were no official public hearings.

10/05/08 8:36 am

This is NOT a tax reduction initiative

posted by cranky

Hmmm - this didn't post the first time. I hope it isn't just delayed causing this one to be a double post:

This initiative does zero, zilch, nada to reduce taxes because it doesn't require any reduction to the program that is being funded at all. Since, as Ques 1 supporters readily acknowledge, passing this initiative leaves Dirigo health completely intact the program will be funded - just with DIFFERENT taxes.

Advertising or discussing it as a tax reduction measure is a lie. So out of state business interests are underwriting a deceptive campaign that will help their businesses but do NOTHING for Maine citizens.

10/05/08 8:15 pm