Op-ed expression for action on health care access and affordability is a worthy endeavor, but I find the piece by Rep. Margaret Craven a bit disingenuous (Feb. 15).

The ongoing cost of new coverage under MaineCare is zero, if one believes, as it appears Rep. Craven does, that Maine taxpayers do not pay taxes at the federal level. Dirigo has a cost to the Maine taxpayer and implying otherwise is unreasonable.

There should also be serious concern in promoting a program that relies on federal funding, particularly since federal officials are stepping up their scrutiny of states and the shenanigans employed to plug budgetary shortfalls, health related or otherwise, with federal Medicaid dollars.

Reasonable taxpayers do not doubt the burden imposed by health care costs and illness. However, every dollar required to fund programs is taken from a wage earner on the other side of the fiscal equation, each with his or her own personal budgetary concerns and obligations.

Maine’s tax burden is already painfully high, and suggesting to taxpayers that a new program, such as Dirigo, will not cost the state taxpayer anything more is annoying, and an insult to the reality of everyday life.

Honest discussions about publicly funded programs require factual representations from our elected representatives. As a citizen, voter and taxpayer, I expected better.

Christopher Droznick,

Auburn