The Sun Journal failed to report the internal political issues of the recent special session of the legislature. These issues caused significant delays and cost the taxpayers $80,000 unnecessarily. Two agenda items, bonds and taxes, were enough for one afternoon’s work. The delays were due to the arrogant misconception of the Senate Democrats that they could have it their way and somehow gain a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate (where they had only an 18-17 advantage). Both parties in the House and the Senate Republicans had reached agreement on the issues.

The Senate Democrats wanted all 26 bonds in a single bundle requiring one vote on the ballot. Everyone else had agreed to a fairer way by grouping bonds of a similar nature for separate votes.

The Senate Democrats wanted to include more than $89 million in the bonds (up to $104 million). Everyone else agreed on $85 million, but added $4 million because of the recent crisis at the Waldo-Hancock bridge. Sixty million dollars in bonds had been voted in June 2003.

The Democrat Senate president delayed all significant activity for several hours on the first day because of the absence of one Democrat senator.

The unrealistic expectations of the Senate Democrats, showing an aversion to compromise, stretched the session into the wee hours daily and embarrassed the institution. Maine citizens deserve better. If it had been Senate Republicans, would the Sun Journal have ignored these actions as you have for the Democrats?

Rep. Thomas F. Shields, Auburn

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