I thank Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello not only for voting against LD 2247, regarding DirigoChoice, but also for her efforts on the floor of the Maine Senate in debating against tax increases on beer, wine, syrup and also a 1.8 percent surcharge/tax on health insurance claims. These new tax increases came to the floor of the Senate on the day before the session ended, and had no public hearing. Isn’t this taxation without representation?

Sen. Snowe-Mello believes the people in her district and across the state meant it when they said no new taxes.

I agree with her and other legislators, such as Rep. Michael Vaughan of Durham, that putting a tax on other’s health insurance claims is not only immoral, but will increase the cost of health insurance. Didn’t the people of Maine ask the Legislature to lower the cost of health insurance, not increase it?

What was Gov. John Baldacci thinking when he signed this bill into law?

Didn’t he and the Democrats promise not to raise taxes?

This is why I will support the people’s veto to repeal these unfair tax increases.

Michael A. Haggett, Poland