Republicans and Democrats differ on the prospect of raising taxes.
By Bonnie Washuk
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – Republicans and Democrats said Gov. John Baldacci’s proposed cuts to medical services are too drastic and would hurt Maine’s most vulnerable citizens.

Leadership in both parties said they’d either favor or consider delaying the expansion of Medicaid through the Dirigo program on July 1. In addition, Democrats said Maine needs to at least look at raising “sin” taxes, but Republican leadership objected to raising any taxes.

“We should not be taking health care away from anyone who has it now,” said House Speaker Patrick Colwell, D-Gardiner. “None of us want to eliminate services. We need to take care of the most vulnerable populations.”

The cuts aired Monday “are not going to fly in our caucus,” said Senate Majority Leader Sharon Treat. Those cuts would not only hurt Maine’s most vulnerable, but would result in a loss of jobs to the health-care system, Treat said.

House Majority Leader John Richardson said he’d favor raising sin taxes and delaying Dirigo if there’s bi-partisan agreement. “We’ve got people with brain injuries” facing a loss of services. It’s time for political rhetoric to stop and bi-partisan action to start, he said.

Bipartisan agreement may be unlikely, however, at least when it comes to taxes. Republicans would support delaying the Medicaid expansion of Dirigo, now scheduled for July 1, but would oppose any tax increase, said House Assistant Minority Leader David Bowles.

Bowles was surprised Tuesday to hear the governor was open to discussing either idea. “If you go back a month-and-a-half ago, Democrats and the governor were insisting on immediate expansions of Medicaid in July. Just a month-and-a-half ago this was off the table. This is an about-face.”

Republicans would favor that, Bowles said. “We thought it made financial sense a month-and-a-half ago. We will again support it, but we’d want to review it.”

Six weeks ago Republicans warned that Medicaid expansion “was putting unsustainable pressure on the system.” They proposed phasing in Medicaid expansion caused by the implementation of Dirigo Health.

“By continuing to expand the system at an unaffordable rate we are jeopardizing those individuals who need the most help,” said House Minority Leader Joe Bruno.

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