Editor,

Today, Maine is the worst state in the country for businesses. Statistics show Maine hospitals absorbed hospital care costs of $150 million between 2001 and 2011. In 2013, the LePage Adminstration paid the hospitals off of what was owed to them ($105 million). If Maine passes ballot question 2, it appears the hospitals are the only one who will benefit from this ballot initiative because they are tax exempt and the citizens are not.

Statistics show that this bill will cost Maine tax payers $100 million a year and additional 144,000-plus  citizens and non-citizens will qualify for Medicaid. The 79,500 Mainers who do not qualify will be left absorbing the costs through increased medical costs and insurance ($300 for pneumonia shot, up to $5000 for emergency room visits).

This will force Maine citizens and businesses to quit working and leave the state.

Maine will go bankrupt and the U.S. Government will decrease its funding. Statistics reveal that Medicaid spending in Maine grew from $1.4 billion in 2002 to $2.6 billion in 2011 and within the next 5 years it will spend additional $400 million. This amounts to $180 annual tax per household or cuts to other programs in Maine and $2400 tax for every person in America by 2025.

Research has already revealed in Ohio the over-budget is $4.7 billion in just 2.75 years and Alaska’s over-budget is $61 million in one year with long waiting lists, sales tax increase, fewer doctors, etc.

There are restrictions to this Question 2 bill. 

People who are over 55 years of age will have their house taken away from them (like reverse mortgage) to reimburse the state government. The state commissioner can lower eligibility requirements at any time according to budget funding availability.

No where in this bill does it say the federal government has to contribute to the state of Maine for health care.

See www.sanfordmaine.org/election for bill and ballot information.

Crystal Martell

Sanford