People should take the time to research the facts before signing the referendum for a people’s veto to overturn part of the recently passed biennial budget.

Republicans in the Legislature filed papers with the Secretary of State’s office for a veto that would dismantle the current budget.

Their effort to cut off funding for schools, towns and cities, plus prevent the delivery of over $300 million in tax relief would reverse the highest school funding increase in the last 25 years and eliminate every property tax relief measure enacted this year.

This is an irresponsible stunt by Republicans. They don’t want to give Democrats credit for increasing funding to education and property tax reduction.

A veto would create an unstable economic climate, potentially costing the state millions in bond interest payments. This puts money for roads, schools and economic development at risk.

The conservative Maine Heritage Policy Center has given us the only glimpse of what a GOP budget might look like:

• Cut children’s health insurance by $18 million;

• Terminate Dirigo health, eliminating health insurance for thousands of small businesses and their employees;

• Slash funding for elderly receiving Medicaid;

• Privatize Head Start;

• Cut funding to Maine Public Broadcasting;

• Privatize the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, just to mention a few.

With $300 million in property tax relief, $250 million in school funding, the smallest increase in state government in 30 years, Gov. Baldacci and the Legislature’s Democrats created a responsible budget for our state.

Rep. Margaret Craven, Lewiston