It’s interesting that Maine Democrats seem intent on blaming Washington for all the problems afflicting Maine. The most recent diatribe came from Rep. William Walcott, in his letter published Dec. 11. It strikes me that the Democrats, after having mismanaged Maine for years, have decided to attack President Bush to divert attention from their bleak record.

May I suggest that they look closer to home to see why Gov. John Baldacci’s approval rating is at 37 percent. One of the many reasons may be that Maine’s unemployment rate has increased to 5.3 percent in September from 4.7 percent a year ago. Some 5,200 more Maine people were unemployed in September 2005 than a year earlier, during a time when the national economy is strong. What will happen here if it weakens?

Democratic policies have saddled us with the highest tax burden in the country and the second highest health insurance costs. Democrats’ hostility to business now has us ranked 49th in a national business “survival” index. Only California and the District of Columbia are more lethal to a company’s success. Mainers now are catching on to Dirigo Health, a socialistic program spending tens of millions of tax dollars to insure less than 2,000 previously uninsured people. Maine homeowners also have wised up to Baldacci’s property tax reform plan – LD 1 – which turned out to be a cruel joke.

I’ll admit that Washington has problems. Maine Democrats should stick to the serious problems they have caused here in our state.

State Rep. Robert A. “Bob” Berube, District 104, Lisbon