If officials and residents in Maine’s big cities want to fund welfare for illegal immigrants, let them make a special tax in their cities to pay for it. However, everyone across the state should not have to pay for choices any single municipality makes.

I have no issue with giving welfare and support to people who are down — give them a helping hand. The basic expectation, to me, is that people on welfare should follow the rules and try to help themselves, as so many people on welfare do.

There are thousands of people in Maine who follow the rules and yet are not getting the help they need. It affects a diverse cross section of citizens, from veterans to hungry children. Yes, “citizens” need help, too.

Stephen Robinson, Poland