This is in response to the Sun Journal editorial, Oct. 18, that encouraged a yes vote on Question 1. I offer my perspective, not only as a taxpayer, but also as a local practicing physician.

The editorial does acknowledge that a small tax on sugar-laden beverages and beer and wine is not objectionable. The pennies (one to four cents) involved at the front-end equal enormous savings over the long-term when defined in terms of health care cost reduction.

A point of objection in the editorial involves the 1.8 percent assessment on health insurance claims, but the editorial neglects to extend the discussion and remind people that the current funding mechanism, the savings offset payment, can assess claims at a rate up to 4 percent.

A vote of no on Question 1 endorses the lower assessment rate.

That is a critical point lost in all the well-financed hype of the “Yes” side. They are misleading Maine voters when they talk about how the new law will “tax health claims.” The truth is the new law lowers the old tax from an unpredictable rate of up to 4 percent, to a stable, predictable rate of 1.8 percent. This is exactly what we have been asking Augusta to do for years – lower taxes. But the national beverage industry is asking us to return to the old law due to their concern over their own bottom line.

The editorial takes issue with the process the Legislature utilized in passing the new law at the end of the legislative session. Certainly, it is not unusual for difficult, contentious issues to be saved for the last discussions, but the notion of taxing some beverage categories was not new. A blue ribbon commission recommended this approach in 2006.

And, in fact, taxes have not been raised on beer in more than three decades. Taxing other sugar-laden beverages that, when consumed in large quantities, contribute to ill-health, and using the proceeds to support ongoing health care coverage for Maine’s underinsured is a win-win proposition.

Expectations were high when DirigoHealth was conceived. Making that sort of commitment to a state’s citizens remains a novel idea, and rarely does that idea ever go beyond a roundtable discussion. Few laws involving complex issues of taxation and health care are perfect. Continued funding to support Dirigo as it evolves, though, and as it continues to provide health care coverage to more than 18,000 Mainers, is a priority for me, for the Maine Medical Association, and numerous other health care professional organizations.

I urge the public to join me in voting no on Question 1, and help preserve health coverage for Maine families and children.

Jenie M. Smith M.D., Lewiston