We, the taxpayers, are being cheated by our state government.

From state lottery profits that were originally to be used solely for education, problems with the new motor vehicle computer system, DHS’s $30 million debacle and the education department’s $14 million oversight. All these and more have really just shown us that our state government does not have the ability to govern itself.

There is no advocate in state government for citizens to voice complaints against state government. We need our state government to have a department to evaluate state programs, have the necessary authority and power to make changes, and to field the complaints against state government by the citizens of this state.

Gov. King instituted one such program: OPEGA, the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability. The problem is that the Democrats in power have delayed this vital program. Why, you ask? Because the people who are responsible for the failures of our government are also the ones in charge. It is the accountability part of OPEGA that scares them. Forty-four states in this country have similar programs resulting in many millions of dollars saved.

Why don’t we have such a program? Why don’t we have an advocate in state government who can take our complaints and issues with state government? Why don’t we have state government accountability? It’s too bad that it has taken the 1 percent property tax cap referendum to get the attention of state government.

Bill Griebel, Lewisto

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