The Bangor Daily News editorial on whitewater rafting (“River rafting: It ain’t broke,” March 22), did journalism and the people of Maine a disservice.

Perhaps it is standard practice at the Bangor Daily News to editorialize without considering both sides of an issue. Although I am one of the principal supporters of LD 1820, the BDN made no effort to contact me to discuss the bill, nor, apparently, did you talk to any other supporters of the legislation. I trust your readers, given more information, could make up their own minds on the issue, a trust you apparently do not share. The BDN editorial and Howard Trotzky’s accompanying Oped column (“Precious public resource”), offered in concert, appeared to be a deliberate and one-sided effort to influence the 117th Maine Legsiatlure as it prepared to debate LD 1820, an important piece of legislation to the whitewater rafting industry.

It might be appropriate, given the importance of this issue to the economy of northern Maine, to offer objective reporting, and fully explore both sides. In the meantime, consider the following:

1. Despite your claims the bill’s legislative support came from “slick lobbying,” not one penny has been spent on professional lobbying in support of LD 1820. The Legislature did, however, hear compelling testimony from people from across northern Maine.

2. You concluded the bill did not deserve emergency status. Given the state of the economy in the communities bordering Maine’s rivers, a number of people — including the town manager of Millinocket — disagree with you.

3. LD 1820 received a unanimous ought-to-pass recommendation from the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. Several members of this committee — including longstanding member Rep. Paul Jacques — served on the original Whitewater Study Committee you lauded. The Fish and Wildlife committee heard all the arguments contained in your editorial and Trotzky’s Oped piece, and considered them when it recommended to the full Legislature that they pass the bill.

It is true that Maine’s laws have allowed the rafting industry to be competitive. It is also true, however, that when Maine placed a carrying capacity on the rivers and divided that space among existing companies it protected the weakest outfitters by guaranteeing them a portion of the limited space available. This served to hold back outfitters who arguably offer more and better services.

LD 1820 would allow a limited consolidation within the industry. Under existing regulation, one outfitter is currently prohibited from buying or even working closely with another. This would help to promote financial strength that can be turned into both product and service improvement and increased and expanded payroll. All of this benefits Maine as a whole, and allows for real growth in the rafting industry.

I look forward to an opportunity to work with the BDN if it chooses to give this issue real attention. The rafting industry may not be broke, but it sure could use a tune-up. Matthew A. Polstein New England Outdoor Center Millinocket