AUGUSTA (AP) - The deadline is fast approaching for petitioners seeking to repeal two newly enacted laws to submit their voter signatures to the Maine Secretary of State's office.

One group is seeking to scuttle new taxes on beer, wine and soda that were approved by the Legislature to help fund the Dirigo Health program.

A second group has been collecting signatures to block a new law tightening the procedures for issuing Maine driver's licenses.

Each group needs to turn in just over 55,000 voters' signatures by July 17 in order to force a repeal referendum in November.

AP-ES-06-16-08 0853EDT