State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin is on the right path with his investigation into the reckless spending of taxpayer money by MaineHousing. It is disappointing that one of our locally elected representatives, Sen. Margaret Craven, is trying to discredit Poliquin’s work with her guest column (Dec. 9).

It seems to me, as a taxpayer, that Craven is more concerned about protecting members of MaineHousing who share her political and ideological views than she is about making sure taxpayers’ dollars are spent wisely.

Regardless of whether a housing unit is in a multifamily building or is a single-family home, the astronomical costs of some of the projects MaineHousing has funded, with price tags in excess of $300,000 per unit, are not affordable housing. It is a complete waste of taxpayer money.

I also take issue with Craven’s assumptions that MaineHousing operates efficiently with the private sector and that the excessive building requirements, that go above and beyond state and local building codes, are necessary. Perhaps the excessive building requirements are driven more by a liberal ideology than by concern about building units affordably.

In the responses I have read from the director of MaineHousing, it seems to me that there is a culture at MaineHousing that refuses to accept accountability and transparency.

Although MaineHousing does have some good programs that help consumers finance homes, the state treasurer is right in looking into the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on some MaineHousing projects.

Robert Foss, Auburn