I am a small businessman in Lewiston. Over the past couple of years, I have had issues with the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Gaming and Weapons section of the Maine State Police.

However, when I tried to report fraud, waste and abuse, I found there is no entity in state government that fields those types of complaints. When you complain to the state Attorney General’s office, they direct you to the same people you have a complaint about.

Then I find out the state has a program that was signed into law two years ago but our governor won’t fund it. The program is called the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability and is designed to oversee state government and hold accountable those who are responsible without being politically biased.

This state government has wasted enough of our tax dollars. Remember DHS’s $30 million debacle, the $14 to $15 million forgotten federal school money and the recent tax amnesty, which netted twice the expected $13 million.

Many problems could be resolved by implementing the accountability program, but the Democratic leaders of our state have refused to allow funding for that vital office. Forty-four other states have it and all have saved enormous amounts of money.

What is the governor hiding from us?

We are the highest taxed and one of the poorest states in the country. It is time we exercise our rights and make this state government listen to us and hold those in government accountable.

Bill Griebel, Lewiston