Any member of the Maine Legislature who truly cares about Lewiston-Auburn and the people of Maine will help the Cover Maine Now coalition of more than 100 health care, business, public advocacy and concerned citizen organizations enact LD 1578, as amended, which passed both houses of the Legislature on the last day of the 2014 session.

The new bill is virtually identical to the Republican-proposed measure adopted into law by big bi-partisan majorities in New Hampshire. It uses the money that Mainers have paid into the federal escrow account to buy insurance from the private market exchange. It has so many fail-safe, sunset and escape clauses built into it that it is immune from anything that could impact Maine taxpayers

As to the allegation that this was a last minute submission: of course it was. Until the attempt to override the veto of the Katz-Saviello bill failed, the Cover Maine Now Coalition still hoped that model would prevail, and this new bill is a further compromise in good faith.

LD 1578 fulfills all the requirements that have been articulated by opponents of MaineCare expansion for more than two sessions now. As for the remaining rhetoric that this measure would enlarge welfare — we all know better. It isn’t about welfare; it is about health care and Maine’s economic future. It will also save lives.

What more do we need to know?

Rich Livingston, Auburn

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