The Maine delegation down in Washington, D.C., can do us all a big favor in the next few weeks.

If Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, as well as Rep. Mike Michaud, will support extending the tax cuts on dividends and capital gains, our businesses might have a chance to start investing in their own growth instead of cutting even bigger checks to government.

Businesses could really use a boost right now. The last thing the country needs is a tax hike and, if the current rates expire, that is just what would happen. In fact, the dividends tax rate could jump by as much as 164 percent. That is just crazy.

I hope our elected officials understand that now is not the time for any kind of tax increase.

James J. Tracey Jr., Auburn