Health Care and Social Service Consumers, Providers Urge Voters to Vote NO on Question 1 June 8

Group says initiative would devastate critical services; nursing home residents could be hit hard

Augusta, Maine – A non-partisan coalition of healthcare, business, union and social services leaders urged Maine voters on Friday to reject Question 1 on the June 8 ballot, saying the initiative could raise state taxes and trigger deep cuts in vital state services and programs.

The Maine Municipal Association’s initiative, which was first voted on last fall, will cause a financial crisis for the state, forcing the Legislature to cut vital programs and/or increase taxes massively.

Rick Erb, President of the Maine Health Care Association, said, “I am deeply concerned about the negative implications of Question 1, the MMA sponsored school funding proposal. From its inception the plan has lacked a coherent answer to the question of how the required $245 million will be funded.” Erb warned that Question 1 could force cuts in health care services for the elderly and disabled, noting that “72 percent of Maine’s nursing home residents are dependent on MaineCare for their support.”

Dean Crocker, representing the Maine Children’s Alliance, said, “The Maine Children’s Alliance asks our fellow citizens to vote NO on Question 1 because it will hurt our most vulnerable children and families. Question 1 forces the Legislature to cut $250 million in addition to filling a budget hole of more than $900 million in the coming biennium, and offers no guarantee that taxpayers will see any reduction in their local taxes. These cuts cannot be made without serious reduction or elimination of basic health care for thousands of children and families. Assuring the health of our children is critical to our State’s economic future.”

Also speaking against Question 1 was Dana Graham, President of the Maine State Employees Association. Graham said, “While Question 1 is well-intended, our Union opposes Question 1 because there's no funding mechanism in place for the millions of additional dollars that Question 1 would require the state to provide. It's just plain irresponsible to expect Maine people to vote on Question 1 without telling them where the money would come from.”

Mary Henderson, Executive Director of Maine Equal Justice Partners, a statewide advocate for low income families, said, “I am here to ask people to vote No on Question One on the June 8th because of the extreme damage that I fear its cost will have on other services funded by state government. Realistically, how would we pay a $245 million bill? We could increase the sales tax by a penny, but that raises only about $140 million. We could try cutting services, but havoc would ensue. K – 12 education already makes up about 35 percent of the state budget. So if Question 1 passes, all cuts would have to come from the remainder of the state budget.”

“Question 1, sponsored by the Maine Municipal Association, offers hard-pressed homeowners a seductive, but false promise for tax relief,” said Dana Connors, Chairman of the Maine State Chamber. “If Question 1 passes, it will cause another financial crisis in Augusta. Question 1 also threatens many programs that provide fundamental support to Maine’s economy and civil society, such as public safety, healthcare for the elderly, child welfare, the University of Maine, job training and many others.”

The Vote NO on Question 1 Coalition is the new campaign name for the group who last fall pushed for the passage of Question 1B, Mainers for Real and Responsible Tax Relief. The group has many of the same members and endorsements and will work tirelessly between now and June 8 to defeat the measure on the ballot.

For additional information, go to the group’s website at www.votenoonquestion1.com.

George Campbell of Portland, former Mayor of Portland, serves as the group’s Treasurer. Other supporters of the coalition include members of the Legislature, business leaders, health and social services organizations and education leaders, including the following:

Bancroft & Company
Casella Waste Systems
Dead River Company
Domtar Industries, Inc.
Georgia-Pacific
Independent Energy Producers of Maine
International Paper
L.L. Bean, Inc.
Madison Paper Industries
Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods
Maine Association of REALTORS
Maine Bankers Association
Maine Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association
Maine Center for Economic Policy
Maine Children’s Alliance
Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education
Maine Equal Justice Project
Maine Health Care Association
Maine Innkeepers Association
Maine Merchants Association
Maine Peoples Alliance
Maine Pulp and Paper Association
Maine Restaurant Association
Maine Small Business Alliance
Maine State Board of Education
Maine State Chamber of Commerce
Maine State Employee Association, SEIU Local 1989
Maine Tourism Association
Maine Women’s Lobby
Merrill Marine Terminal Services, Inc.
National Federation of Independent Business - Maine
National Semiconductor
Nexfor Fraser Paper
Parker Hannifin Corporation
Plum Creek Timber Company
Portland Regional Chamber
Sappi
Specialty Minerals
Tambrands
UnumProvident Corporation
Verizon

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