letter to the editor

LePage tax cuts come around

Mon, 11/13/2017 - 3:30pm

Dear Editor:

So, the times have brought us full circle. When Paul LePage took office, one of his first acts was a tax cut for the wealthy. That has benefited no one but the recipients, and has resulted in local town-tax increases. On Nov. 7, the people have spoken, demanding the expansion of Medicaid to cover those who have fallen through the cracks. LePage and his party now feign stupidity, as if to say they have no idea why our state might be short of funds, asking “What shall we cut from existing services to pay for this?” To this I say: Don’t cut anything from our existing services; In fact, how about fully funding education while you’re at it. The answer to the revenue source is simple – rescind your tax cuts for the wealthy, and make them pay their fair share.

We live in a Democratic state, and our governor and legislature are supposed to work for the benefit of all its peoples. Yet they ignore the people, to the point where ballot initiatives are passed to enact the laws they won’t address. We are now seeing them try and ignore these laws. It’s time to hold them accountable.

Where does my confidence in these statements come from? Read a great and revealing book on what exactly is happening to America, and who the Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and the Republicans really work for: “Democracy in Chains” by Nancy MacLean.

Dwight Swisher

Boothbay