On July 24, our two Maine representatives in Congress, Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree, both voted no on a measure giving the Pentagon $598 billion in fiscal year 2014.

They are to be congratulated for representing their constituents rather than weapons manufacturers that are already filthy rich on tax dollars from Pentagon contracts.

If the budget proposed by President Barack Obama passes, the Pentagon will again receive about 57 percent of the discretionary federal budget in 2014 (source: nationalpriorities.org). This is while Head Start programs are cut, Meals on Wheels loses funding, millions are unemployed and veterans’ needs go unattended.

The ball is now in the U.S. Senate’s court. I urge others to contact Angus King and Susan Collins and ask them to do the right thing — bring our war dollars home to fund human needs. Urge them to represent their constituents, not their campaign contributors.

Lisa Savage

Solon