I am writing to comment on Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed biennial budget.

When I was a young boy, I read Robin Hood, who took from the rich and gave to the poor. I believe we have a new character, that of Reverse Robin Hood who now takes from the poor and gives to the rich. I am pointing to money to be taken from active and retired teachers.

Promises were made during those past years, notably pension payments, health insurance, retirement ages and retired teachers’ COLA percentages.

A law was passed that the state of Maine would pay 55 percent of the cost of education, and a constitutional amendment was voted that the state would return the “borrowed” retirement fund money by 2028.

If the state of Maine was not going to follow through on those promises, why did it make them in the first place? A promise made is a promise kept.

All of the above were negotiated in good faith and now Reverse Robin Hood wants to take funds from active and retired teachers to cut taxes, raise revenues and balance the budget. An extension of the payment schedule would suffice the same as a family refinancing a mortgage to reduce monthly payments.

Why would anyone want to enter the teaching profession? Why would anyone want to continue in the teaching profession? Why is the state encouraging teachers to retire during 2011? There must be another less burdensome plan.

Carl Beckett, Mechanic Falls


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