In his letter April 17, Thomas Shields of Auburn (where I grew up and graduated high school) makes an important point about federal spending in the context of a Sun Journal front page headline that read “Democrats question balanced-budget bill.” But his focus on and criticism of Democrats’ criticism of U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin for his support of the amendment is very far off base.

What would be on point would be to identify Poliquin’s support for the amendment as posturing for political purposes. But no substance. Democrats have ample ground for criticizing Poliquin; but in this context — that of pushing for federal spending that does not exceed revenues — I would suggest to Shields a shift in focus.

In thinking about sensible, balanced-budget fiscal policy, it should be remembered that Poliquin supported the recent GOP tax bill that will have the effect of ballooning the federal deficit by $1.5 trillion.

Now that is something to criticize.

Susan Rae-Reeves, Topsham