Dear Public Health Colleagues:

As the Policy Committee of the Maine Public Health Association, we are asking you to do two important things between now and November 4th:

• Share the information in this email with colleagues, friends, and family
• Vote No on Ballot Question One

Voting No is important because Question One is about health coverage, and Maine’s ability to continue moving forward in building a system of quality coverage that can include more people at affordable prices.

Voting No is also important because Question One is about public health, prevention funding, and our ability to continue using pricing tools to reduce demand for products with negative health outcomes.

For those of us who’ve been at this a while, what we’re seeing today is just a trip back in time to when states were first starting to hold the tobacco industry accountable for the health costs of their products. The backlash was tremendous. Through the years the industry has poured millions into opposing state efforts to raise tobacco prices and limit smoking in public and work places. And just like today, the industry created bogus economic disaster stories – no restaurant or bar would remain open; no convenience store would survive the exodus to New Hampshire; and smuggling and black market operations would be seen on every street corner from Kittery to Fort Kent.

Question One campaign efforts by the beer and soda industries are just an extension of these tactics. They are unwilling to share responsibility for the health costs of their products and they are using the economic frustration of Maine voters as a cover for their real agenda. While pretending to be driven by Maine people, their campaign has raised $2.1 million from Coke and Pepsi, and another $800,000 from Anheuser Busch and the Beer and Wine Wholesalers. They are willing to say and do anything to keep Maine from once again being on the forefront of a national march to good health. Meanwhile, obesity and substance abuse lead to over $500 million in health costs in Maine every year. When it comes to health and health care costs, these industries are apparently quite content just being part of the problem and not being part of the solution.

There is much at stake if the beer and soda industries win and Question One passes. In addition to putting 50,000 Maine children and hard-working adults at risk of losing their affordable health insurance, we would lose a powerful tool in the public health toolbox – price increases on products that can reduce demand and raise revenue for prevention and treatment programs. If Question One passes, the Legislature will become even more hesitant to use these pricing tools, just at a time when we will need them the most. The difficult economy and ongoing budget shortfalls will mean fewer dollars available for more people in need. There will be no resources to expand prevention efforts, and the funds we rely on in the Fund for a Healthy Maine for our current efforts will be under extreme pressure to be used for filling general budget gaps. Health and health costs will not improve, and could very well worsen as a result.

We need all public health professionals to get engaged in this last week before the election to spread the word about the importance of voting No on Question One. Maine voters are moving toward a No vote, but they need to hear from you. Please share this information widely. A fact sheet with more information is available on our website at http://www.mainepublichealth.org/news.php or for additional information about the No on One campaign, go to www.healthcoveragemaine.org.

Thank you for all you do to improve public health in your communities and in Maine.

Sincerely,
Maine Public Health Association Policy Committee

P.S. Maine is on the front lines in the fight against obesity and in building a health coverage system that can benefit everyone. We’re a national leader in taking on tobacco and investing in prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Maine’s future prosperity depends on healthy kids and a healthy workforce. Please share information on this Ballot Question with others and please Vote No on Question One.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE MPHA ANNUAL MEETING THIS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3!