Maine and the U.S. are facing real problems. One is a health care crisis, particularly in rural areas, that will be made worse by the proposed cuts to Medicaid (and perhaps Medicare) to pay for tax cuts to those who need it least. More health care workers are needed, but the GOP is targeting immigrants, many of whom work in health care, and denying student visas to the thousands of foreign students who have been coming to the U.S. to train to be doctors.

We also face a housing shortage, which will be made worse by the steel tariffs and the intimidation/deportation of undocumented construction workers, who make up more than 23% of the construction workforce.

Not every Republican can be blind to these problems. So, why are they acquiescing to President Trump’s policies that are exacerbating them? If Republicans want to help Americans, they should stop demonizing the law-abiding workers we depend on and insist on the right priorities in Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

Kirsten Platt
Portland