Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Brenda Harvey said in a recent interview that Maine has been working to clear up the debt owed to hospitals.

According to Harvey, hospitals accepted federal stimulus funds toward back payment in 2008 and agreed, then, not to pursue layoffs for an undefined length of time.

“The whole purpose of Recovery Act dollars was to sustain employment or to make employment opportunities,” Harvey said. “(Gov. John Baldacci) came through with his agreement of $204 million of general funds, matched with federal money, for a total of $920 million paid to hospitals in his administration for settlements and now, here we are; the money’s gone out and they’re laying people off.”

The above quote appeared in a front page article and truly exemplifies what is wrong with our government as it currently exists in Maine.

Harvey seems to believe that regardless of the financial predicament the hospitals are in, they should not lay people off.

Reality check, Ms. Harvey. If hospitals don’t have the money, they can’t pay the employees.

That is not a very difficult concept to grasp, except for the Democrat-controlled government that has always spent money it doesn’t have. After all, it can always just get more from the taxpayers.

The problem is that now there are 35 less taxpayers because of the state’s actions, and another 60 or so jobs that will not be filled.

Stephen Miller, Lewiston