Editor:

As the elected Representative to the Maine Legislature for the people of Acton, Lebanon and parts of Sanford and Springvale, I always welcome the chance to explain how and why I have voted on issues.

A recent letter questioned several of my votes over the past four years but has given little or no explanation of what these proposals would actually do. LD 1021 would have provided “bridge” health insurance to professional (as opposed to volunteer) firefighters and police officers who were forced to or chose to retire before they were eligible for Medicare.As the wife of a volunteer firefighter for over 25 years I know that our 1st responders have a difficult and dangerous job and deserve to have this additional security provided by their employer, in this case the town of Sanford. LD 1021, which passed by narrow margins in the House and Senate has made the cost of this benefit a responsibility of the State and not the town.

I don’t think the citizens of Acton and Lebanon, with volunteer only fire services, should pay for the benefits given to the employees of the Town of Sanford. Nor should the citizens of Springvale be force to pay for Portland’s benefits. It’s just common sense that town employees should be hired and paid for (including benefits) by the town, not the state.

Relative to LD 1381, the story is similar. With that bill the State Legislature forced school districts to increase the starting pay for new teachers to $30,000. Having been a teacher for 30 years, I know that most teachers deserve higher pay. I do not believe the Legislature should be driving up local school costs and expect the local tax payer to pick up the tab. Our local school boards, school district meetings and town councils are best able to determine how much money they should pay their teachers along with the other bills they must pay.

Ironically, one year the Legislature forces local education costs up, the next year they pass school consolidation (which I opposed), which reduces the state subsidy for education in order to balance the state budget. Guess who gets caught in the middle? The property tax payer.

If I am reelected I will continued to work to help first responders and improve education.

What I will not do is forget that there is bill associated with State spending that must be paid for by Maine families.

State Rep. Joan Nass

Acton, Lebanon, part of Sanford and Springvale