Rep. Sonya Sampson’s criticism (July 24) of Republicans for not rubber-stamping Democratic bond requests is disingenuous. She ignored the fact that Republicans withheld their support because of the serious budget problems Maine faces next year. With a $778 million structural gap looming, Mainers should be thankful that Republicans are carefully scrutinizing Democrat’s borrowing proposals.

Republicans withheld their support for the original $120 million package because it was simply irresponsible in a time of fiscal uncertainty. In an effort to compromise, Republican leaders proposed a $30 million package. Democrats never even considered the alternative proposal.

If Rep. Sampson and the Democrats truly felt the “roads and bridges are the foundation of the economy” than they should never have diverted $45.6 million from the Highway Fund to the General Fund as they did during the 121st Legislature. A highway bond would be unnecessary if this fund had been left alone.

Rep. Sampson also failed to mention the two bond packages passed by the Legislature in 2003 totaling $150 million. Now she and the Democrats want to borrow another $55 million, which would bring the two-year bonding total to over $200 million. The state currently faces bonded debt of $417 million. In addition, authorized but unissued bonds total $222 million for a total of over $639 million.

In these trying financial times, it is incumbent on public officials to manage government resources carefully. Borrowing large sums of money is not fiscally responsible and will only exacerbate the budgetary problems.

Rep. David Bowles, assistant House Republican leader, Sanford

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