Local legislators have stepped into the fight over a convicted killer's request to have the state pay for his sex-change operation.

State Reps. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, Jay Barrows, R-Mansfield, and Richard Ross, R-Wrentham, are among 21 lawmakers who have signed a letter to prison officials stating their opposition to Michelle Kosilek's request for the state to pay for the surgery.

Kosilek is a man who wants to become a woman. Formerly known as Robert Kosilek, he was convicted of murdering his wife in Mansfield in 1990. Her body was found in the trunk of a car parked at Emerald Square mall in North Attleboro.

The state has refused to pay for the operation, but Kosilek is suing the Department of Corrections, contending that the refusal violates his Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment.

Harold Clarke, the new corrections commissioner, said last week that he would re-examine the case at the request of U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf, who is hearing the lawsuit. State Rep. Jeffrey Perry, R-Sandwich, has written to the commissioner at the Department of Corrections opposing any use of state funds for an operation and at least 20 of his colleagues have signed on to the letter, including Poirier, Barrows and Ross.

"I think it is absolutely ridiculous we would ask the taxpayers to fund this kind of procedure," Barrows said.

Poirier agreed.

"Our letter to the commissioner stresses the fact that with the state budget facing a $1.3 billion structural deficit, it is vitally important we use our resources responsibly," she said. "We strongly believe that Mr. Kosilek's request is far outside the scope of services that the DOC is required to provide and not a legitimate role of government."

Ross said he is hearing from town officials throughout his district about the financial difficulties their communities are facing. He said the state should not be spending money on sex-change operations.

"It is an inappropriate way to spend taxpayer money, especially at a time like this," he said.

While state representatives are voicing their opposition through a letter, state Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, has tried unsuccessfully in recent years to get a bill passed outlawing the use of state funds for sex-change operations for inmates.