It is hard to believe that another election year is upon us, but the reality is that soon we must decide which candidates are best suited to save Maine from crushing tax burdens and skyrocketing debt from a burgeoning state budget.

We do not need Gov. Baldacci to inform us about the state of the state, especially when he has caused enough problems for the state of Maine. From his dubious and failed Dirigo health plan to the loans he has taken out in partnership with other Democrats to cover unbridled spending, the governor’s efforts to bring the state of Maine onto the right track have failed.

They are policies of the past that are simply not competitive in juxtaposition with the business-friendly environment of New Hampshire and the urban centers of Massachusetts. We can learn more from our Republican legislators, who have sponsored bills such as Rep. Stephen Bowen’s L.D. 436, which eliminates the estate taxes on family-owned businesses, and Carol Weston’s L.R. 6161, which gives consumers greater choice in health care and promotes competition and growth in the health care industry.

As we enter the year of 2006, we need to examine for ourselves the state of our great state of Maine. The insistent and hopeful words of John Baldacci mean nothing if he consistently does not back them up.

We can only hope that a new year will bring positive change and more business expansion, thanks to the efforts of our Republican leaders in Augusta.

Jonathan Browher, Lewiston