I am confused. I need an explanation from either Gov. Paul LePage, state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin or J Dwight, who serves on the board of advisers for the Maine Heritage Policy Center (Sun Journal columnist, March 20).

They are stating that the Maine State Retirement System is in jeopardy (which I hear is false). So their solution is to “tax” each teacher and state employee an additional 2 percent to help build it up.

I have also heard that the proposal calls for the state to reduce its share for each teacher and state employee by 2 percent.

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you add 2 and take away 2, the result is zero.

How is this “tax” on public employees going to help the retirement system? Mr. LePage or Mr. Poliquin really should explain to the public why, in these times of rising oil prices, rising insurance costs and probably no pay raises, they are asking the public employees to balance the state budget.

Shouldn’t it be the responsibility of all Maine taxpayers to help with the budget, not just a select few?

David Marshall, Litchfield