I read with interest your Nov. 23 front page smear of Rep. Robert Nutting, written by John Christie. Was this situation not covered by the press years ago when it was fresh? This article did not bring us new information, so what was its purpose?

Mr. Christie did not name the source of his information. Did he see the actual DHS bills, payments or hearing transcripts? Or did he take this orally from a questionably accurate employee? Did he contact Robert Nutting for verification?

More importantly, why did the DHS allow this overbilling to continue to the point of $1.6 million?

The article mentions calculations from 1997 to 2001. Who was watching the store? Were there no audits of the department?

The Democrat-leaning press has not raised the question of the incompetency of the DHS staff in allowing this to occur for years. DHS just blindly paid whatever was billed. Its disregard of taxpayers’ money is evident.

The agency did no favor to Nutting by allowing him to erroneously calculate charges year after year.

No wonder our state has financial problems. Republicans have a real challenge to correct this mess.

Thomas F. Shields, Auburn

Editor’s note: According to John Christie of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, the facts regarding overbilling were sourced directly from the Department of Human Services investigatory documents in the case, including statements from Nutting. And Christie did interview Nutting personally in the process of reporting this story.