Dear People:

As the election draws near, let me remind you of some the actions taken by the majority Republicans in the Maine Legislature:  they changed the health insurance laws so that insurers can charge more than before based on where you live, your age and your occupation.  This has caused people over 55 and rural residents to see large increases.  It added a new fee (tax) on all insurance policies to pay for a reinsurance pool and removed oversight of rate increases.

In their majority budget the Republicans

• Cut $3million for Drugs for the Elderly Program
• Reduced state funding by 50% for early childhood education (Head Start)
• Eliminated health care for 7,000 19 and 20 year olds
• Cut $2.65 million from home visitation program aimed at preventing domestic violence
• Eliminated $400,000 in funding for family planning and women’s health programs
• Cut smoking cessation funds in Fund for a Healthy Maine
• Lowered funds for General Assistance to certain municipalities

Joan Welsh voted against these cuts and supported the Democratic proposal that would have transferred new revenue to blunt the impact of cuts to seniors and children, and provide savings through fraud recovery, salary savings and MaineCare restructuring.

When so many citizens of Maine are working so hard to make ends meet it is the responsibility of our legislature to be protecting those among us who most need support in order to stay safe and healthy.  The majority Republicans have effectively stripped protections from many in our state and if they continue to hold the majority will continue to do so.

Democrats combine a tradition of responsibility to sound fiscal management and applying revenue where it is needed most.  Join me in voting for Joan Welsh or whoever is the Democratic candidate in your district. Regaining the Democratic majority is critical in slowing the draconian attack on the social safety net being waged by the LePage administration.

Thank you, Susan Dorr, Camden