Maine Governor Supports Cigarette Tax Increase To Fund State Health Program

Maine Gov. John Baldacci (D) on Tuesday announced that he supports a proposed 50-cent-per-pack cigarette tax increase to fund the state Dirigo Health program, Blethen Maine/Portland Press Herald reports. In March, Baldacci had said that while he supported the language of the bill, the timing was not right to discuss the matter. However, Baldacci now said he is prepared to work with lawmakers on the bill because the state's budget is balanced, Blethen Maine/Press Herald reports.

Dirigo provides coverage for about 14,000 state residents and is funded by premiums paid by employers and their employees, as well as a so-called offset payment from insurance companies. The program also covers 5,600 Medicaid-eligible adults at a cost of about $5 million (Cover, Blethen Maine/Portland Press Herald, 4/2).

Survey
Health Policy Partners of Maine -- a coalition of heart, lung and cancer groups -- on Tuesday announced the results of a survey that found 76% of Maine residents support a cigarette tax increase, the Portland Press Herald reports. The group is urging lawmakers to increase the cigarette tax by $1 per pack in an effort to fund health programs and encourage people to quit smoking (Portland Press Herald, 4/2).