I was surprised by the op-ed by Rep. Jonathan McKane regarding legislation considered by the Insurance and Financial Services Committee. I am the House chairman of that committee, and Rep. McKane is a member. McKane wrote it is “preposterous” and a “falsehood” to claim that between 50,000 and 58,000 people would be impacted by the people’s veto. His column chides members of the public for their “audacity” in using those numbers.

When a public servant uses such strong language about the people he serves, one would hope he has his facts right. McKane is incorrect. The range of 50,000 to 58,000 people is an accurate estimate of the number of people whose health coverage would be affected or threatened by the people’s veto.

Facts: The veto would affect not only Dirigo, but a new program to benefit more than 45,000 people who struggle to afford insurance in the individual market. This program will make a difference of 5 percent in the premiums paid by those 45,000 people. This will take effect only if the people’s veto fails.

These 45,000 people are in addition to the 12,500 Dirigo enrollees whose coverage is at least threatened by the people’s veto effort. Even allowing for overlap between the two groups, 50,000 to 58,000 is a pretty good estimate of the total number of Mainers who could be impacted by the people’s veto.

Rep. McKane boasts that he has never missed a committee meeting on this subject. Either he failed to comprehend the legislation that we discussed in all those meetings, or he is misrepresenting the facts.

Rep. John Brautigam

Falmouth