Why are the citizens of Lewiston and Auburn all upset about combining the two cities when there is a lot bigger issue we should be trying to tackle?

It has been reported that the state has cut off most funding for school health clinics. The state took $5 million from the Department of Health and Human Services which, in turn, cut all grant funding to those health centers. That money paid for most school health-related programs, including personnel.

I have read reports of how the state has an $111 million surplus, yet, because of the budget that passed, the governor had the DHHS cut money from 23 school health clinics. Our kids have many obstacles in life and I believe funding should be increasing, not being cut.

Lewiston lost a middle school student to suicide this year. I have a step-daughter in Lewiston High School and a step-daughter going into the middle school — where that happened. I would be willing to pay more in taxes just to save one life. 

After contacting my state representative, I found out DHHS was not going to put the money back in and that the Legislature would not even start anything to fix the problem until January, which means no money this year.

I believe it is time for the state to step up and do the right thing. Our kids are our future.

Stephen Lurvey, Lewiston