March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Shifting responsibility

The Maine Legislature is making massive cuts, but they are not solving their problems. So, the Legislature is putting the responsibility on the towns and cities of Maine.

Gov. McKernan and the Legislature say we have to cut the educational system and they came up with the high price of $16.1 million in school aid that must be cut. The money is to be cut and the only thing that really seems to matter are the thoughts of the adults and voters of the state. But what about the students? What do they really think? Has anyone seriously asked them where school budgets should be cut? I would like to know what programs they would attack, and if they are the same or different from what the superintendents and adults are planning to attack….

The government should be told when to stop. Don’t cut from the students, cut from the Legislature and their spending. I am sure the senators and representatives could withstand a pay cut. And what about the governor? Has he taken a salary cut? And the attorney general, has he? And my final question: Instead of having pay hikes passed in session at 2:30 a.m., when the rest of us are sleeping, why don’t they vote for a pay cut when we are awake — but then we might think we were having a crazy dream.

I am sure that if the Legislature, McKernan, and the attorney general took a pay cut, some of our state financial problems probably would be solved. Debra Lord Hampden


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