I, among many others, have not seen the actual current budget proposal of Gov. Paul LePage. I have seen a lot written by my fellow citizens, most of them severely critical of it. I suspect this criticism is based on what they have been told or read somewhere, and not based on the actual document content. An atmosphere of apprehension has been planted by the Democrats.

How many know the real facts of the situation? And based on those facts, what are the Democrats’ solutions to the problems? It is wasting our time re-hashing the fears which our liberal media are all too glad to print. I prefer constructive solutions. Gov. LePage must balance the budget, a constitutional requirement.

How can we continue to fund the irrational expensive spending the eight-year Baldacci administration left us? LePage inherited that mess and has had only one year to work on it. The Democrats passed unaffordable Medicaid programs which were paid for by withholding funds from our hospitals, and following that, using one-time federal stimulus money.

The answer should not be more taxes.

Gov. LePage is correct in that our Department of Health and Human Services, among other departments, must be reconstructed and he is setting about doing it with the help of the Legislature.

We must live within our means, but care for those who are unable to care for themselves.

Thomas F. Shields, Auburn

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