Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to letters@bangordailynews.com
This is a moment when it matters who we send to Augusta, and I believe Sen. Mike Tipping has shown he’ll do the work to protect our healthcare, our environment and our working families.
Mike has passed bills to bring down medical debt, electricity rates, and property taxes. He sponsored legislation that increased state funding for the University of Maine and protected our universal school meals program, at a time when the federal government was cutting both.
You don’t need me to tell you that gas, groceries, and heat are more expensive. What may be less visible is that both of our region’s major health care systems, Northern Light Health and Penobscot Community Health Care, are under serious financial strain as thousands of people are expected to lose coverage because of federal cuts.
My wife is a pediatrician, and she sees what this means everyday to the children in our community. Families that are already stretched thin and our most vulnerable children, such as those in foster care, are the ones who will be hurt most as clinics lose providers, space, and clinical services that families depend on.
Mike grew up in Orono and is now raising his own family here. I believe he understands the difficulties all families are facing now to provide for and give opportunities to their kids. I trust him to understand, and take seriously, the real consequences of the laws he writes and supports. I hope you’ll join me in re-electing Mike Tipping.
Matthew Powers
Orono