By now just about everyone in Maine knows Anthem Insurance Co. of Indiana wants to purchase Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine. The powers that be in Augusta and the Blues are wasting their time fussing about which t to cross and what i to dot concerning the $120-plus million charitable Pine Tree Foundation for the uninsured. There are two convincing reasons not to be gobbled up by Anthem.

The attorney generals of Connecticut and Kentucky are suing Anthem for $606 million and $230 million, respectively. That is close to $1 billion. That’s pretty serious money. Other states are also in the process of suing. If Anthem takes over Blue Cross and the verdicts go against Anthem, it will no doubt go belly up — which means some 400,000 Blue Cross members would go without medical insurance.

The Maine Legislature and the governor should understand that responsible government has the burden to look after the welfare of its citizens. Massachusetts understands the principle only too well as it is in the process of giving a $147 million infusion to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, an HMO, so it will be able to continue serving its 1.5 million members.

The Maine Legislature should follow Massachusetts’ example and give Blue Cross sufficient funds, on a continuing basis, to enable it to continue to provide medical coverage to its citizens. The Legislature had the time to line its pockets by voting to give itself a cost-of-living raise. Who do they represent, us or just themselves? George Chebba Hampden