AUGUSTA (AP) – It’s becoming protest season at the State House.

A couple of hundred critics of proposed cutbacks in health care programs turned out Thursday to voice their views and lobby legislators. Speakers touted a 75-cent-per-pack increase in Maine’s cigarette tax as a way to avoid what they warned would be steep human services reductions.

Gov. John Baldacci originally proposed raising the state tax on a pack of cigarettes by $1, producing $66 million a year and bringing the per-pack tax to $3.

Democratic leaders said a full dollar increase would be very difficult to pass. In the face of Republican opposition, prospects for even a lesser amount remain uncertain.

Thursday’s rally, which brought together advocates for mental health services and representatives of unionized state workers, among others, was just the latest of mass expressions of disapproval over the direction of extended budget talks involving the Baldacci administration, legislative leaders and the Appropriations Committee.

One day earlier, a parade of horse trailers, dump trucks and other vehicles circled the capitol complex as about 200 harness racing men and women, construction workers and other racino supporters held a rally of their own.

That followed Penn National Gaming’s decision to interrupt work on its $131 million Hollywood Slots facility in Bangor amid legislative discussions about increasing the state’s take.

“It’s important for people to let us know how they feel,” said state Sen. Margaret Rotundo, D-Lewiston, the Senate chairwoman of the Appropriations panel. “The important piece to remember is these are proposals.”

Republican lawmakers have suggested reducing the state share of employee health insurance from 100 percent to 85 percent, drawing the ire of the Maine State Employees Association.

House Minority Leader Josh Tardy, R-Newport, defended the GOP’s stance in budget negotiations as “responsible” and echoed Rotundo in stressing the tentative nature of bargaining to date.

“The proposal put forth as a discussion point in budget negotiations would require a state employee to contribute approximately $94 per month for their health insurance. … How many businesses in Maine can afford to offer their employees a top-of-the-line health insurance plan with the employer picking up 100 percent of the cost?” Tardy asked.

Rotundo said Appropriations Committee members had more talking to do.

“We will be working this out publicly,” she said. “All of this is a work in progress.”

AP-ES-05-10-07 1533EDT

Copy the Story Link