Maine families are struggling financially in this difficult economy. This is absolutely the worst time to ask us to pay more for our health insurance as well as the products we consume. These new taxes will cost Maine people an additional $75 million per year!

• Maine has one of the highest tax burdens in the nation, and the tax on beverages is a hidden tax that state government hoped we would never notice. That is why the legislature passed these taxes in the dead of the night in the last days of the legislative session and without any public input whatsoever.
  
  
• Through the People’s Veto, Maine people have the opportunity to have our say on new taxes – an opportunity that was denied us by the legislature and the Governor.
  
  
• These new taxes have a lot of trickle-down effects. Not only do they affect consumers, they also hurt small businesses that have to pay the tax. When businesses are struggling, the last thing we need to do is add more pressure on them with higher taxes.
  
  
• Repealing these taxes will not eliminate funding for the Dirigo Health Program. The pro-tax special interest groups who oppose our People’s Veto effort are telling you a big lie when they make that claim.
  
  
• This tax will only make our economic problems worse. Maine consumers, who already cross into New Hampshire to purchase goods and services, will spend even more of their money outside of Maine to avoid these new taxes. That will hurt small businesses like grocers and convenience stores here in Maine who are trying to create jobs and keep the economy going.
  
  
• At a time when the federal government is trying to provide people with tax relief due to difficult economic conditions, our own state government is sticking us with even more of a tax burden.