Dear Editor:

Last week a letter titled, “Delay, deny, defend,” blamed Republicans for the failure of LD-910 in Augusta. Democrats have been in complete control of Maine since Governor Mills took office almost 8 years ago. Democrats control the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Governorship, the three Constitutional Offices of Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Office of Attorney General, and the one Statutory Office, the State Auditor. Republicans, at this point, control nothing. They can only witness.

For almost eight years Republicans have had no voice in what bill passes or fails. There are a total of 17 standing committees. All have a Democratic majority. Any bill in any committee can be defeated or passed by Democrats on a party line vote. If the Democrats wished, Bill LD-910 could have come out of committee as “Ought to Pass,” been approved by the House and Senate, and been signed into law by the Governor. Democrats own the credit or blame for every bill that passed or failed in Augusta and every action taken since Governor Mills took office.

Maine is in trouble; we have the fifth highest tax burden in the US. Under Mills, state spending increased 70%. Education spending has increased by 52% even as enrollment and scores have fallen. Many communities are now seeing double digit annual increases in property taxes. Maine has the fifth highest electrical costs driven by green energy. Hospitals are shutting down birthing units. Since 2019 at least 20 nursing homes and residential facilities have closed, a 25% drop. Another 15 assisted living facilities are gone. The number of licensed childcare facilities is down 25%. Maine is rocked by scandals and controversies. Millions of dollars of payments to Somali led Gateway Services are in question. There are two billion dollars of procurement violations on the books including 1200 no-bid contracts to NGOs. Money for victims of the Lewiston shootings has been diverted to other NGOs. The list goes on and on. Credit belongs to those in charge. Now, who fixes this? It will not be the Democrats that broke it.

Joe Grant

Wiscasset