I applaud Gov. LePage and Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew for their stance on withholding General Assistance payments to undocumented immigrants.

Frankly, I don’t understand why anyone would try to make a case that we should spend this precious money on undocumented (some of them here illegally) people when hundreds of individuals with special needs languish on waiting lists for services to help them become productive and contributing members of their communities.

The governor, the Legislature and the DHHS are working hard to eliminate these waiting lists, but this requires funding, and with the ever-shrinking stream of revenue and increasing demands on the system, only so much can be done at any one time.

I don’t want to see anyone struggle, but tough situations require tough choices. I am thankful that we have the leadership to stand up to the challenge.

Dennis Dean

Kittery