A letter, “Dumping Democrats have hurt Groton in Hartford,” (July 23) was factually incorrect. Reps. Scott and Bumgardner have two of the best attendance records in the Capitol, significantly better than their predecessors' and in stark contrast to our Democratic Senator Maynard’s, whose circumstances, while understandable, have left the 18th District unrepresented in the Senate.

Bumgardner and Scott have worked hard in Hartford for their districts. They succeeded (school construction funding, 100 percent state income tax exemption for military retirement pay) and where they were unsuccessful (oversight of the harassment of our shell fishermen by the Bureau of Aquaculture), it was due to petty partisanship of the opposition.

We need more Republicans in Hartford, not fewer. Both Bumgardner and Scott voted against this year’s budget that was crafted behind closed doors without Republican input. It’s a 7 percent increase with tax increases that fall heaviest on our middle class. It rewards state employees while punishing residents, employers, hospital employees and patients. It contains provisions that failed in committee or were never debated.

Democratic policies and budgets like this one cause our employers, parents and adult children to flee, our hospitals and clinics to close. With more Republicans we might have had an open debate and a balanced outcome that better represented all of Connecticut’s residents.

Jane Dauphinais

Groton