If we believed the Republican spin machine, every man, woman and child would be running for the hills because Maine is on the brink of destruction.

Here’s the funny thing, though: if they claim everything is so bad, why don’t they want to do anything about it?

There has been a steady stream of GOP criticism targeting the governor and his plans to make health care affordable, strengthen small businesses, lower property taxes and balance the budget. The criticisms continued the other day from former state Sen. Rick Bennett. But no matter which Republican throws the jabs, criticism is about all you’ll get.

But there’s a problem with criticizing when you don’t offer any suggestions to improve the situation. It avoids the issue at hand and it does nothing to find inventive, long-term solutions to challenges like lowering the cost of health care or helping small businesses succeed.

In the 1990s, after the first wave of seniors made their semiannual pilgrimage to Canada in search of lower-cost prescriptions, Republicans sat and watched. After the federal government cut Maine’s Medicaid funding by $80 million, Republicans still did nothing to address the continually rising cost of health care.

Maine led the nation with MaineRx in the 1990s. Now Maine leads the nation with Gov. Baldacci’s Dirigo Health. In the first two months since the program began, more than 4,000 Maine people have signed up for Dirigo, representing 216 small businesses and 867 sole proprietors from across the state.

Dirigo is addressing a problem our small businesses have faced for a long time: finding qualified employees but not being able to pay the benefits that will keep those employees. Rather than develop innovative policies that establish a partnership between business and the interests of accessible, affordable health care, it seems the GOP would rather maintain the status quo.

Focusing on business and economic development in a number of areas has become a priority for the governor’s administration. With that focus comes fiscal discipline. The praise Gov. Baldacci received came from one of the most unlikely sources: the conservative Cato Institute. This isn’t a matter of patting himself on the back; it’s about a solid record of fiscal discipline.

Maine’s overall state tax burden has fallen during Baldacci’s first two years in office from 8th to 13th place nationally.

The budget, which the Legislature continues to work on, does more to provide tax cuts and investments that will improve Maine’s competitiveness, broaden our economic base and create more opportunities for Maine people.

In fact, for all the Republican complaints about spending in state government, the governor’s budget includes tax cuts – $225 million in immediate property tax relief, $153 million in business machinery tax cuts, $51 million in income tax cuts by eliminating indexing and additional tax breaks for shipbuilding and veterans.

Yes, this budget is an expression of the governor’s priorities. Gov. Baldacci and our Democratic legislators have come up with new ideas that address the challenges we face in Maine. We should maintain our commitment to seniors and those who have health problems through no fault of their own.

At the same time, let’s help small business succeed. Let’s provide health care options to businesses who want to offer a good benefits package to their employees. Let’s offer tax incentives for small business through the Pine Tree Zone program. Let’s keep Maine moving forward.

But let’s stop the complaining.

Richard H. Mailhot is a former business owner from Lewiston who served eight years in the Maine House of Representatives.

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