30 May 2025 Reckless Abandonment
Dear Editor,
When the Maine House of Representatives took up a critical vote on emergency funding for MaineCare on Tuesday, May 20, Rep. Abden Simmons didn’t vote no — he didn’t vote at all. He walked out.
While rural hospitals teeter on the edge of financial collapse, while nursing homes consider closures, while EMTs run on fumes, Abden Simmons couldn’t even be bothered to stay in the room. That’s not representation. That’s cowardice.
The Maine Hospital Association put it plainly. Our hospitals have some of the lowest margins and the highest debt in the country. Every day that goes by without restored MaineCare payments is a day closer to layoffs, service cuts, or worse.
Republicans claim they don’t want to sign a “blank check.” But the only thing blank yesterday was Simmons’ seat.
This isn’t just legislative gamesmanship; it’s reckless abandonment of the communities Simmons was elected to serve.
If you can’t show up for your district, you shouldn’t be in office.
Keith Mestrich
New Harbor
Chair, Lincoln County Democratic Committee
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