A candidate for governor says something worth listening to.

From a Rowe campaign release:

Today, Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Rowe announced his opposition to proposed budget cuts to Maine seniors and families and called for a tobacco tax increase.

Rowe said, "We need to put Maine people first. The proposed cuts will hurt Maine people and will result in increased future costs for Maine taxpayers. It's wrong to eliminate home-based services for our seniors who are trying to remain independent in their own homes. These cuts will cost us more later, and will force stricken communities to raise property taxes on Maine families. In short, these cuts are penny wise and pound foolish."

Rowe explained, "The proposed cuts in areas such as prescription drugs for seniors, home and community based services for elderly and disabled citizens, and mental health services will hurt those who need such services, will result in cost shifting to the property tax and will significantly increase costs in the near future. Seniors who can't afford maintenance drugs for chronic conditions will end up in hospitals, costing us all more money. People with severe mental illness who do not receive the treatment they need, will end up in homeless shelters, emergency rooms and jails, increasing costs to taxpayers. The human costs associated with these cuts are even higher."

Rowe continued, "We can begin to solve the problem by raising tobacco taxes which will have added benefit of helping reduce youth smoking. I urge a change in the proposed budget to stop the cuts and raise the tobacco tax instead of balancing the budget on the backs of Maine seniors, children and families."

Rowe concluded, "The state budget must meet the needs of Mainers today and prepare our State for the future. These are difficult times that require difficult decisions. We must ensure that those difficult decisions do not increase future costs and result in unacceptable human consequences. Putting tobacco interests above the interests of Maine people is wrong. It's time for leadership that protects what is most sacred, and that addresses Maine's most urgent needs."

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