The recent passage of two bills shows, once again, that many Republicans in Augusta have anti-worker agendas.

The new workers’ compensation law places a 10-year cap on benefits paid to an injured worker. After 10 years, an injured worker will be lucky to be able to receive further benefits.

The bill was written by lawyers representing the insurance companies in Maine and, even though the comp system was financially sound and the fraud rate low, it was passed strictly by party lines. It seems that a change had to be made to allow for more earnings for the insurance industry.

Just two years ago, organized labor in Maine fought and won to change the law so that Maine workers could keep their vacation pay upon layoff. Your vacation money is earned by you and should be kept by you and not used to offset your unemployment. But this law was overturned by the Republican-dominated House and Senate.

It is important to remember that neither of these laws when enacted will produce one single job, nor does either law offer any new fraud prevention measures. What these two laws will do, shamefully, is to once again enhance the pocketbooks of those who need it less while burdening the backs of Maine’s working people.

I will remember in November who was really looking out for whom and will cast my votes accordingly. I can only hope that others will also remember who took money from them.

Joe Mailey, Auburn