Cheers to Rep. Brian Bolduc, D-Auburn, for submitting Bill LD 29 that would cap salaries of hospital executives at the Maine governor’s salary. Though that’s probably not going to happen, it brings those exorbitant salaries into public awareness.

Earlier, I was disgusted to learn that while Eastern Maine Medical Center staff was being cut, the CEO was earning a salary in excess of $300,000. Now, I learn from a recent Sun Journal story that at least three other hospital executives make millions.

According to 2008 IRS nonprofit filings (that Bolduc quoted), Peter Chalke, president of CMMC, received $1.5 million; William Caron, president of MaineHealth in Portland got $1.2 million; Vincent Conti, former president of Maine Medical Center received $3.24 million.

I hope there are other people out there who are outraged at those salaries. Nobody is worth that much money. There should not be such a disgraceful disparity between compensation for those who do the actual work and those who manage institutions.

Yes, of course the state of Maine should pay their debts to health care facilities, but the state Legislature should also put a damper on executive pay. If Bolduc hadn’t proposed the bill and if Sun Journal hadn’t run the story, most of us would never have known how overpaid these executives are.

Joyce White, Stoneham

Editor’s note: In February 2010 the Sun Journal published an extensive analysis of hospital executive salaries titled “Health & Wealth,” reporting the 2008 IRS figures. Bolduc based his proposal, in part, on that report. To read the story, go to: https://www.sunjournal.com/central-maine-health-care/story/792174