In a Bangor Daily News article published in the Sun Journal on June 27, Maine Sen. Margaret Craven said it cost her $7 to go to Portland and back via the Maine Turnpike. The last time I went, it cost $1.75 at New Gloucester and nothing to get off at Portland or South Portland.

If you return the same way, it costs $1 to get on, $1.75 at New Gloucester. That adds up to $4.50, not $7.

Either she can’t add or she is loose with the facts. If that is the kind of person representing us in Augusta, God help us.

Craven complains about a small increase in tolls but now wants to spend thousands of taxpayers’ dollars to have OPEGA investigate the Turnpike Authority. Maybe it is because it is her money for one, and taxpayers’ money for the other. It depends on whose ox is being gored.

If she cannot afford the tolls, she can go down 196 to Lisbon Falls and turn right to go through Durham and Freeport, picking up I-295 to all points in Portland and South Portland. No tolls, and it isn’t much longer in miles or time.

If she is going there to shop or eat, she could try those places in Lewiston or Auburn. They are the ones paying her to represent them.

She never saw a tax she didn’t like, such as cigarette taxes, gas taxes, income tax, etc., and said if you don’t like the cigarette tax you should quit. Well, if you don’t like the toll increase, don’t use the Turnpike.

Roger Farnum, Lewiston