I can’t stand it any longer. I am referring to another attack on state employees, this time by guest columnist John McGough (Sun Journal, June 28), titled “Eliminate excessive costs from state contract,” with a subheadline of “State officials must balance the interest of employees with those of the taxpayers.”

It seems it doesn’t occur to many that taxpayers and state employees are synonymous. Yes, state employees pay federal income tax, state income tax and all other taxes that other taxpayers pay. State employees are no different from taxpayers.

State employees have money withheld from their salaries that is paid into the pension fund. They also pay taxes, some of which goes into the pension fund. That means state employees pay twice into the fund, whereas the so-called taxpayer pays once.

It is no secret that, at times, previous governors either did not fund adequately or did not fund at all. State employees and retirees did not create the problem but are required to play a large part in resolving it.

Perhaps the governor and other elected officials are overprotective of the wrong group.

Richard Smith, Lewiston