Fed Up with Taxes

After the Fed Up With Taxes coalition submitted 90,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's office, likely putting a People's Veto for beer and wine taxes on the November ballot, House Minority Leader Josh Tardy is predicting a "bruising battle" leading up to Election Day.
The coalition is fighting the recently passed taxes on beer, wine, and soda to support Dirigo Health. The bill also adds a 1.8 percent surcharge on hospital bills and doctor's fees, according to a release from Tardy's office.
The taxes do not apply to Maine breweries and wineries.
The coalition turned in 90,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's office this week - far more than the 55,087 needed for a People's Veto.

Previous coverage: Fed up with taxes advertises in beer aisle; Fed up with Taxes: PAC report highlights; Fed up with taxes coalition launches signature campaign; Health Coverage for Maine launches campaign; The opponents to the people’s veto: PAC report highlights

Fed Up with Taxes, the group urging a People’s Veto of the recently passed beer, wine and soda taxes, turned in 90,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office today.

This is far more than the 55,087 signatures needed for the veto. Newell Auger, chairman of the group, said municipal clerks have validated 80 percent of the signatures.

The signatures were turned in two days before the July 17 deadline.

Representatives from the group Fed Up With Taxes have turned in 90,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's office. That is about 35,000 more than needed, and should guarantee that the issue will be on the ballot this fall.

The prevailing rumor is that the group has already collected more than ninety thousand signatures. According to the Secretary of State, the required number of signatures is 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election (55,087). Groups generally like to have a cushion of at least 10% more than the required number, just to be safe. If the rumors are true, than I think it is safe to say that voters will have an opportunity to weigh in on this issue in the fall.

Fed Up with Taxes, the group petitioning for a people’s veto of the beer and soda taxes recently passed, is advertising their campaign on beer bottles.

At the Augusta Wal-Mart Thursday evening, a small glossy flyer hung around bottles in several six-packs. They were on domestic brands such as Michelob, Miller, Budweiser and Seagram’s.

“Did you know your taxes on beer and wine just doubled?” the flyer said, urging people to sign the veto petitions.

There were no flyers around local brands such as Shipyard.

A new coalition called Health Coverage for Maine launched their effort to oppose the people’s veto of the new taxes on beer, wine and soda.

The veto effort is orchestrated by Fed Up with Taxes, a coalition of business groups. They need to collect 55,000 signatures to repeal the law passed by the Legislature.

The Legislature approved the new taxes to fund Dirigo, the state’s health insurance program.

Members of the Portland League of Young Voters don’t care if the cost of booze goes up a few pennies.

League leaders sent out an e-mail Thursday urging their members not to sign the people’s veto petitions that will be circulated by the Fed Up with Taxes coalition.

The coalition is headed by Chamber of Commerce members and is supported by out of state beer and soda corporations. Members include the Maine Restaurant Association, the Maine Grocers Association and the Maine Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association.