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As a native Mainer, mother, and pediatrician, I like to think that I’m attuned to the needs of Maine children. That means that I’m worried sick about what I see as President Donald Trump’s war on them. Sen. Susan Collins has supported his policies and nominees 95% of the time, and so, I believe, is also guilty of this assault.
Cuts to Medicaid and health insurance? Closing of hospitals and health centers? Gutting of the Department of Education, and Head Start? Cuts in nutritional assistance, childcare, housing, job training, disability supports, and child protective services, and assaults on immigrant families. The list goes on.
Despite her key appropriations position, I believe Collins has sent money the wrong way. She has allowed tax cuts for the wealthy, and supported the flow of billions of dollars to Middle East wars and ICE. This means significantly less help for the younger generation, so way more harm and also future debt.
If she would answer my letters and emails, she would get an earful. If she would have her first town hall in nearly 30 years, she would hear probably from many struggling Mainers. I think she is too busy rubberstamping Trump’s destruction of our children’s future, while her campaign benefits from millions of dollars of national campaign donations, including from Elon Musk. Oh yes, and she is traveling extensively on the tab of special interests.
Thirty years ago she said that two terms was enough. I care enough about our children to remind her that I think her retirement is overdue.
Deborah Patten
Bath