The tax problem is not in the local communities. We do not need a committee to figure out there are too many costly state programs and not enough taxpayers to spread out the tax burden due to the low population of the state. Where will the money come from to pay for all our state programs for the low income?

The middle class is paying big bucks to subsidize the state’s low income and poor. How can we bring more high-paying jobs back to Maine?

Our newest tax burden is the Dirigo Health program that initially cost state taxpayers $53 million paid to Anthem for an initial claim payment account to implement the program, not figuring in its ongoing state subsidies to supplement its high premium and deductible costs for the low income. Only a small number of people per year can join. As more people join the higher the tax burden will be.

There is no limit set on Anthem’s rate increases. The 2005 premiums have increased to more than 35 percent from the 2004 rates. This will be another rapidly increasing tax burden that we cannot reverse.

Vincent D. Staples

Millinocket