The headline read, “Hospital layoffs loom” (Sept. 16). The accompanying story confirmed that, because of financial problems brought on by Maine’s failure to pay CMMC $56 million in MaineCare costs owed since 2007, an unknown number of employees would soon be out of work (and without health insurance).

During the last budget session, the public had to endure the whining and hand-wringing of the party in power announcing that the budget had been cut to bare bone. It would be impossible to cut even the amount of a postage stamp.

Really?

This morning, at breakfast, a friend showed me a letter he had received from Rep. Margaret Rotundo. The letter was on legislative stationery, enclosed in a legislative envelope with Augusta postage franking. The contents — congratulations on the birth of his new grandchild.

No money for patient care but money for legislative public relations? I wonder if that letter, sent during the campaign season, violates the Clean Election Law which Rotundo supported.

It’s time for each voter in Maine to don the mantle of a member of a board of directors. Although many legislators are nice, they are incompetent.

It’s time to put personalities aside, act responsibly and fire them.

Robert Macdonald, Lewiston