Lois Snowe-Mello recently penned a letter to the editor in support of Questions 2 and 4. Two claims made in that letter require further exploration. She wrote that Question 2, (a law that would cut the motor vehicle excise on new cars), would give $800 to the average Maine family.

In truth, 68 percent of all cars on the road do not qualify for any reduction; only newer cars see the benefit. Instead, passage of Question 2 will likely hurt the average Maine family. Here’s why:

The motor vehicle excise tax generates revenues for local governments. Question 2 would significantly reduce the funding needed to maintain 14,000 miles of local roads and 850 local bridges. Question 2 won’t help average Mainers; it will simply lead to worse roads or increased property taxes.

Furthermore, in order for Maine families to save $800 dollars pursuant to Question 2, they would have to buy a brand-new car worth $66,666 every year! Hardly average.

Second, Snowe-Mello claimed that Colorado saw tremendous economic growth under TABOR.

That claim is, at best, debatable. What is not debatable is that TABOR was so unpopular in Colorado that the business community funded a $7 million campaign to suspend it in 2005 because of its negative impact on businesses, education and economic growth.

Claire Bailey, Poland