LETTER: Vote for Poliquin, demand better management

Mainers should realize that things are not rosy in our state and that we must demand much better management than we have received in the past. Using data from the Bruce Poliquin campaign (BruceForMe.com), some of my concerns are:

• Maine’s long-standing reputation for not being business-friendly.

• The lowest percentage of residents 18 years old or younger but sixth-highest percentage of residents 65 years or older in the nation.

• Unfunded liability of $8 billion for the State Employees Retirement and Retiree Health Fund.

• The fourth-highest personal income tax burden in the country.

• The highest cost per K-12 pupil in any rural state except Vermont, seventh among all states with only average matriculation in K-12 and below average in college.

• In 2006, Maine’s household average income was $16,000 less than in New Hampshire.

• The number of K-12 students in Maine from 1979 to 2006 decreased by 16 percent, but the number of teachers increased 32 percent and school administrators and staff increased by 52 percent.

• Eligibility requirements for MaineCare (Medicaid) are practically nil, which together with very generous benefits draws folks from other states, which further increases our costs. Twenty-two percent of Mainers (275,000 of us) are enrolled in this program.

• Restrictions put on private insurers by the Legislature have resulted in minimal individual health insurance competition and correspondingly high rates in Maine.

• Maine excise tax on a new $25,000 car is $600 for the first year. In Connecticut, it is $38.

• Lackluster results from nonprofit and government attempts to recruit new businesses and the loss of existing jobs are due to our anti-business image and policies.

Please consider these facts before you vote. I am voting for Bruce Poliquin for governor.

Bob Rasche

Wells