Letters

Published
October 11, 2014

Letter to the editor: Food stamp work requirement troubling

Alanna Durkin’s article “Big changes next month for Maine welfare recipients” (Sept. 30) reports that new rules requiring employment of 20 hours per week to receive food stamps begin in October. Garrett Martin’s column, “Maine Voices: LePage’s work requirements make no sense in Maine’s down economy” (Aug. 28), analyzes why this is a hardship for […]
Published
October 11, 2014

Letter to the editor: Why does Question 1 ban trapping and hounding along with bear baiting?

Question 1 supporters say putting bait in the woods is bad for the bears and hunting over bait should stop. So why are they trying to stop trapping and hounding, too? A good bear hound can smell where a bear crossed the road from the back of a moving truck – and you don’t need […]
Published
October 10, 2014

Letter to the editor: Sen. Collins cried out for ‘common sense’ but stood for shutdown

I agree with Democrat Shenna Bellows’ campaign that Sen. Susan Collins failed to lead in the government shutdown last year. Collins voted for the Republican bill that tied funding to cutting off health care. She knew it would lead to shutdown, and then she dashed to the center crying for “common sense.” This is typical. […]
Published
October 10, 2014

Letter to the editor: Sen. Tuttle supports Maine’s traditional businesses, supports saving bear hunting and management programs

I am writing to encourage all of you to re-elect Democratic state Sen. John L. Tuttle, candidate for District 33. All the candidates tell us that they support growth in jobs, but many do not understand how or what is involved in the economy of Maine. Maine has a strong tradition of hunting, an industry […]
Published
October 10, 2014

Letter to the editor: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife employees should not be silenced on Question 1’s bear-baiting ban

Maine’s equivalent of the federal Hatch Act (MRSA Sec. 7056-A) prevents government employees (like Inland Fisheries and Wildlife workers) from endorsing political candidates, but it doesn’t silence their opinions on referendums, like Question 1’s bear baiting ban. Where was the public and media outcry when government employees so vocally opposed the proposed TABOR tax cuts […]

Published
October 10, 2014

Letter to the editor: USM cuts are great loss for Maine

At the doors of my constituents in Deering, the issue that comes up more than any other is the rolling tragedy unfolding at the University of Southern Maine. Faculty, staff, students and members of the public are all worried about the future of their university. Recent and proposed cuts at USM have been draconian and […]
Published
October 10, 2014

Letter to the editor: Remaining a three-town unit is right choice for RSU 5

When school consolidation was thrust upon us, no one was happy about the idea. After more than a year of research, planning and hard work, a regional school unit was formed. It was rocky at the start. After several years of contention, compromise, conflicts and concessions, we’ve collectively moved toward cooperation. RSU 5 is working. […]
Published
October 9, 2014

Letter to the editor: Expanding Medicaid would help Mainers and provide jobs

Republican Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed legislation to expand Medicaid five times, making Maine the only state in New England to turn down federal expansion funds. Most of the 70,000 Mainers this program would help are working but do not have or cannot afford health insurance. The federal government would pay 100 percent of the […]
Published
October 9, 2014

Letter to the editor: Treatment of Maine’s bears both cruel and indefensible

For decades, bow-hunting was a test of my husband’s finely honed archery skills in exchange for winter stews. Today I’m horrified by the indefensible treatment of bears in our woods. We aren’t allowed to trap deer or moose this way. Nor is it sportsmanlike to shoot a bear out of a tree. This is cruelty, […]
Published
October 9, 2014

Letter to the editor: Cuts to public health budget gravely concerning

I’m writing to express my grave concern about the “sequestration” budget cuts to our public health system. With the fatal Ebola case in Texas and the enterovirus D68 (severe respiratory virus) that is infecting children all over the country (including here in Maine), it is very concerning that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control had […]

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Letters