Sun Journal readers have been, and will be, subjected to a seemingly endless stream of letters from local legislators justifying their recent vote to borrow $84 million on the backs of Maine’s already overburdened taxpayers.

When is the spending going to stop? In the next two years, Maine will spend over $13 billion in state and federal funds. And now, Maine’s Legislature and governor are suggesting we add another $84 million to our out-of-control spending addiction?

A basic rule of economics is, “You cannot borrow your way to prosperity.” Three Wall Street bond rating houses recently downgraded Maine due to weakness in past financial dealings and an uncertain future. Is this really the time to be pulling out the credit card?

If Maine voters approve the credit card advance, it will cost Mainers around $15 million in interest. Both Democrats and Republicans find it easy to spend our money in Augusta.

If the need for the goodies to be purchased with our hard-earned dollars was so great, why didn’t elected representatives just create yet another supplemental budget and tax us over the next two years for the “critical investments” represented by the $84 million? That would have cost the average taxpayer $120 over the next two years.

I’ll bet the same federal money, also known as our income taxes, could be leveraged from appropriated dollars as they can from borrowed dollars.

No wonder our state credit score is plummeting.

Bob Stone, West Minot