Gov. Baldacci is responsible for preparing a Maine government budget for the period from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007. He has been poorly advised on how to solve the projected $750 million deficit plus $250 million more for education.

Who would sell $400 million of lottery revenues from the next 10 years for an immediate $250 million in order to partially and temporarily solve the current deficit? The programs that need the $750 million are slated to continue past 2007 into the future.

Does it make sense to cut benefits to existing programs for the vulnerable in order to expand the welfare programs to those who never had MaineCare before? The new MaineCare program for low-income childless adults is seriously unaffordable. The more sensible legislators have proposed to curtail the expansion and freeze enrollment.

Trust has eroded in the executive branch of government when we find in the statutes of the very thick budget document, sent to the Appropriations Committee, that there are a number of new taxes, fees and powers given to the state government. Particularly noted were items that should have been referred to the Taxation, Business and Economic Development, Judiciary and Health and Human Services committees. These should be separate bills requiring public notice, an advertised public hearing and committee scrutiny. Their obscurity by being in the budget bill gives these items a great deal of relative secrecy.

That is not good government. The taxpayers of Maine deserve better.

Rep. Thomas F. Shields, Auburn

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