Posted on 03/21/2004 10:22:46 AM PST by SheLion
Gov Baldacci - (D)
No doubt, Gov. Baldacci is in a tough place when it comes to patching a Medicaid budget hole.
Baldacci is faced with having to fix a $137 million shortfall in the health care program for the poor. The $160 million supplemental budget that he's submitted to the Legislature would eliminate that shortfall, partially by making more than $60 million in cuts to the Medicaid program.
That's drawn a great deal of fire because some of the cuts would include rehabilitation services for adults with brain injuries, as well as other services for people with disabilities. More than 1,000 people turned out at a public hearing last week to protest.
Baldacci listened, and he's looking for a way to protect those services. It's part of why he wavered briefly on his staunch opposition to increase taxes, though he later ruled it out.
That's wise. Raising income taxes or general sales taxes wouldn't go over very well with either lawmakers or Maine residents, who are rightly frustrated with the high tax burden here. While any choice that the governor makes for cuts will be difficult, Medicaid won't escape without them.
It might make sense, however, for the governor to at least look at increasing some service fees such as meals, lodging or park admission or raising taxes on cigarettes and alcohol.
While these sorts of increases would be considered a tax hike, they are different because people have a choice about whether to spend their money or not.
In fact, raising the cigarette tax has made particular sense for the state, which has been able to positively impact the smoking rate. That's true particularly among teens who often can't afford to pay the extra money to support their habit. The smoking rate among high school students has dropped to about 20 percent from nearly 40 percent in 1997.
Maine has one of the higher cigarette taxes in the nation - $1 a pack - but other states charge more. New Jersey leads the nation at a $2.05 per pack, and states such as Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York also surpass Maine's tax on smokes.
There aren't any answers that will make everyone happy, but the governor does have a few last-resort options that will help keep vital services intact.
While these sorts of increases would be considered a tax hike, they are different because people have a choice about whether to spend their money or not.
A CHOICE?? He's an idiot! If he raises taxes MORE on cigarettes and people go elsewhere for cigarettes and not pay into the state coffers anymore, then he will lose MORE money! On one hand he wants smokers to quit.......on the other hand, he needs smokers tax dollars to continue on with his pet programs. Can anyone see where this is going??????
In fact, raising the cigarette tax has made particular sense for the state, which has been able to positively impact the smoking rate. That's true particularly among teens who often can't afford to pay the extra money to support their habit. The smoking rate among high school students has dropped to about 20 percent from nearly 40 percent in 1997.
Just recently, the state said that teen smoking has decreased...........then another article came out that the stop smoking programs for teens isn't working. Me thinks these people are big fat liars!
Maine has one of the higher cigarette taxes in the nation - $1 a pack - but other states charge more. New Jersey leads the nation at a $2.05 per pack, and states such as Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York also surpass Maine's tax on smokes.
There aren't any answers that will make everyone happy, but the governor does have a few last-resort options that will help keep vital services intact.
Yep! Balances your so called services on the backs of Maine smokers.........again! And your coalition in the State House? Partnership for a TOBACCO FREE MAINE? What's up with THIS Guv!!!!!!!!
Which IS it? Stop? Or continue filling the state coffers with a rediculous raise in cigarette taxes. Aren't smokers just a little tired of carrying the whole state??!!
You said a mouth full! Last count: 1,200 Samoli's on welfare. Yep! You nailed it, stylin!
You wanna bet?
I have a letter from Governor Minner of Delaware from last year when we were trying to make changes to the smoking ban (this was before we moved) and in it she states she would gladly give up all cigarette tax revenue if everyone in Delaware quit smoking. Within less than 3 months she signed the tax increase on cigarettes.
I'v'e known the woman for 20+ years, I even attended her husband's funeral some years back.......it was not until last year that she ever mentioned the cause of her husband's death..............
I've always been curious about how they get these "statistics?"
So glad to see Maine Today is all in favor of more social engineering and extortion aimed at smokers.
Sanctimony and shakedowns.
I had a fella email me this article this morning. Boy, was I hot! I am SO sick and tired of the Maine smokers being saddled with everything!!!! And they say they want us to QUIT! What a bunch of hooey, Madame Dufarge.
Does it make you sick? It sure makes ME sick! They think we don't see what is going on. heh!
*bending over in front of Baldy, pointing to butt*
Here GUV, KISS IT!
And furious.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.