Gov. Baldacci is at it again. We have not forgotten his incompetent and inept leadership. He is back to his old tricks, piling more debt on the backs of Maine taxpayers, debts we do not want, do not need and cannot afford. A few of the items he wants to fund with a bond referendum may have some merit when we can afford them. Now is not the time to increase the debt load on financially crippled taxpayers.

Moody’s Investors Services issued a warning recently that Maine is facing higher borrowing costs in the near future. An astute and forward-looking leader would know this was not only possible, but a certainty given his reputation of a reckless spender. Nevertheless, flying in the face of sound financial management, he chooses to increase the tax burden on all taxpayers.

The $200 million he seeks, plus the $200 million per year he turned down by leading the fight against the casino, point to his lack of financial responsibility and his disregard of the taxpayer’s ability to pay.

His attempt to cajole voters into supporting a $27 million bond issue, by waving a handful of $60,000-jobs before them, is an insult to their intelligence. Creating more income for Maine will never happen until we create more jobs. The $60,000-level jobs will auto-create from the thousands of $25,000 to $40,000 jobs that must come first.

The governor should get his advice from Maine taxpayers, not from other politicians.

Phyllis and Larry Anctil, Livermore

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