I couldn’t believe it. My state Senator, John Cleveland, voted against a measure to stop Maine welfare dollars from being spent on alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets and gambling.

While many of the neediest Mainers sit on wait lists for years to receive benefits, Cleveland is voting to continue wasting taxpayer money on those who are abusing the system.

That is not the way the state’s welfare system is supposed to work. The tax dollars people pay into these welfare programs are supposed to help people in need, pay for the basic necessities. Liquor, cigarettes and lottery tickets are not necessities.

He says he voted for welfare reform. The welfare reform he voted for does not meet the straight face test of Maine’s needy.

If John Cleveland is so out of touch that he thinks welfare abuse like that is OK, then he has got to go.

George Colby, New Gloucester