It gets tiring fighting off tax hikes, but we’ve done it here in Maine in 2008 and at the ballot box again in June, and we’ll do it again if we need to. We can’t afford higher taxes — it is that simple.

I hope the Maine members of Congress have heard that message loud and clear. They are set to vote on a massive tax hike themselves, and if they let the tax cuts on dividends and capital gains expire in January, they will be saying yes to major tax increases on Maine businesses and families.

I urge Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe and U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud to support extending the current rates.

Michaud proved himself a blue dog, “common sense” Democrat when in the Maine Senate. I know he has the courage to stand up to Nancy Pelosi and vote with the people of Maine.

I truly hope we can count on bipartisan, tax-fighting courage from Michaud on behalf of Maine’s small businesses and voters.

Enough taxes already.

Stavros Mendros, Lewiston