We are pleased with the six mayors’ collective opposition to Gov. LePage’s cuts to Medicaid (“Maine mayors urge U.S. to reject LePage’s Medicaid cuts,” Aug. 25).

(The mayors represent Biddeford, Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Saco and Waterville.)

In addition to the pain and suffering that the 27,000 of our neighbors who will be cut from Medicaid will experience, there will be an increased burden on local governments, as well as an increased burden being borne by Maine taxpayers.

There are 1.2 million people in Maine, of whom five or six will die annually owing to the governor’s draconian cuts, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. These cuts to the state budget are close to $20 million.

Why would an elected official, who claims to be a leader, not have the courage and the wisdom to ask each Mainer to pay additional taxes of $1.50 per month to save the lives of some of our neighbors, to improve their health and to reduce the pressure on local governments and local hospitals?

The governor hasn’t solved a problem; he has simply shifted it onto other people. That doesn’t qualify as effective leadership.

Would charitable citizens not gladly bear that added cost to save the lives of fellow citizens?

Niles Schore and Anne Vaughn are residents of Berwick.

 

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