I’m outraged! I’ve just received Bruce Poliquin’s latest flyer in the mail. In it he describes himself: “Giving back, Bruce served as our Maine state treasurer where he helped save our state pension system by eliminating over $1 billion in long-term pension debt.”

What Poliquin fails to mention is that this “saving” was accomplished by taking money directly out of the pockets of current and future state retirees and teachers.

The state pension system did not need saving. It was on track to eliminate the so-called unfunded liability — money the state had “borrowed” from the retirement system over the years — by making regular payments. Poliquin did not want to make those payments in full. How to reduce them? Just reduce the payments to the retirees.

I one of his TV ads, Poliquin says: “My heart is breaking for the seniors in Maine . . .”

Poliquin’s heart certainly did not break for the retirees whose pensions he damaged. That was 12 years ago, and despite the best efforts by subsequent Legislatures, the damage has still not been completely undone.

Harold Booth

Hallowell