This is in response to the guest column by Rep. John Patrick that was published April 13.

I don’t know precisely what he was trying to convey, other than being critical of Republicans for trying to save the one agency that attempts to find efficiencies and cost reductions in state government. That agency is the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability.

Democrats always look for new taxes or fees to meet their agenda. Never do they say, we have only so much money and we should prioritize to live with what we have.

I remind folks that Maine has the second highest taxes in the nation, second only to Vermont. We may take that honor from them with the recent reports of increases in auto registration, beer, wine and soft drink fees (taxes).

For more than 30 years, the Democrats have been in the majority in the Maine House of Representatives, and have brought this state to where it is today.

For Rep. Patrick to criticize the Republicans for trying to save the taxpayers money is both misleading and disingenuous.

Norm Ferguson, Hanover