As many Pen Bay Pilot readers know, the next federal budget bill passed the House by one vote and is now before the Senate. But readers might not know that the bill would throw tens of thousands of Mainers off Medicaid, would cut funding for the Department of Education, and would cut funding for food and nutrition programs for Maine children and Maine families - and would give yet more tax breaks to billionaires.

Billionaires already pay far less in taxes than the rest of us. The average worker pays about 14% in federal income tax, while, according to ProPublica, the 25 richest Americans pay an average of 3.4% in federal income tax, and billionaire Warren Buffet pays less than 1%. 

But it gets worse. Supporters of the budget bill are already making noises about going after Medicare and Social Security, programs our seniors depend on for healthcare and simple survival. All so the rich can get richer.

It's time to stop this morally indefensible madness. It's time for Senator Susan Collins to stand up for Maine's most vulnerable populations. Senator Collins' customary concern is not enough. It's time for her to take a stand against this money-grab assault on the wellbeing of our communities.

Lawrence Reichard lives in Belfast