AUGUSTA — Those who want to repeal Maine's new Dirigo law because of the taxes it contains and those who want to retain it to bolster the state effort to expand access to health care plan to be at the polls on Tuesday.

For the advocates of repeal, organized by the Fed Up With Taxes coalition, financed by business trade associations, the primary election offers a good opportunity to stake out polling places and solicit petition signatures in hopes of forcing a statewide vote in November on undoing the new law.

Backers of the new law, meanwhile, including liberal policy and consumer activists, have been mobilizing to do what they can to persuade Mainers not to sign repeal referendum papers.

At issue is a measure enacted by the Senate and House on April 15.

Initially, a key feature called for a 50-cent-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax.

That idea was discarded in favor of increased taxes – a little more than double – on beer and wine made by large producers.

The new package also would impose new wholesale taxes on soda and syrup used to make it.

Additionally, the pending law would replace an indeterminate savings offset payment assessed on insurers with a 1.8 percent surcharge on paid claims.

To block the law from taking effect and put a people's veto on November ballots, repeal supporters must collect more than 55,000 signatures by July 17.

Alisa Coffin, owner of the Great Impasta restaurant in Brunswick, who joined the Fed Up group as it was being formed, said she carries around half a dozen petitions to gather signatures in her spare time and has gotten a "very positive" response.

Early campaign finance reports show substantial business backing for the repeal drive: Maine Beer and Wine Wholesalers, $100,000; Maine Restaurant Association, $25,000; Maine Beverage Association, $25,000; Maine Soft Drink Association, $15,000; Maine Automobile Dealers Association, $10,000; Maine Innkeepers Association, $6,000.

Repeal opponents have reported receiving $10,000 from the Maine State Employees Association and $100,000 from S. Donald Sussman of Greenwich, Conn., chairman and chief executive officer of Paloma Partners management company.