A letter to the editor by Rep. Michael Vaughan of Durham (Jan. 25) criticized the recently passed property tax reform package and laid out the House Republicans’ suggestions for tax relief. I find it interesting that the same people who flaunt a platform of “responsibility” would propose such reckless and irresponsible suggestions.

I, too, believe that the state needs to ramp up our funding of education to 55 percent. But doing so immediately would result in the devastation of essential services to people who need them. To get to 55 percent, we would need to find an additional $90 million immediately. The only source for that much money is health and human services. I think the people of Maine would rather see a responsible ramp than the elimination of mental health care for the elderly, child protection, our responsibility to people with mental retardation and other necessary services.

Rep. Vaughan wanted spending caps at all levels of government, and to increase the Circuit Breaker and Homestead Exemptions. I’d like to point out that those are all major components of the bill that actually passed without his vote.

The bill that passed reduces virtually every Mainer’s property tax bill. It increases education funding. It caps spending at all levels. These are all things that the people of Maine have asked for, and the Legislature has responded.

I wish Rep. Vaughan would have chosen to be a part of the solution instead of the problem.

Rep. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston

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