Even worse

Reading with interest your editorial, “The Worst Bill”, prompts this observation: The worst bill was actually the school funding legislation. Having retired in the recent past as Superintendent of Schools for MSAD 13, the annual school funding struggles are impossible to forget.

This year’s failure to address the inequities of the school funding formula follows a sorry legislative tradition of relying on gimmicks to avoid the unpalatable prospect of tackling head-on a complete overhaul of this outmoded funding mechanism. Phrases like “for the children” and “education is the key to Maine’s future” roll too glibly off the lips of many would-be politicians pandering for votes.

In Peter Cianchette, Republican candidate for governor, we have a man who understands the inequities of this law. Peter actually believes that the education of Maine kids is important and is important enough to fund sensibly.

Since Sen. Martin has promised to re-submit the nonsense legislation you cited in “The Worst Bill,” it may well qualify for this dubious distinction next year. To assure that Maine kids aren’t again the budget-balancing pawns in next year’s school funding befuddlement I hope we see Peter Cianchette’s steady hand at work in Augusta.

Gary W. Moore

Bingham