AUGUSTA – How much Maine spends helping poor and unemployed immigrants is emerging as a key sticking point in state budget negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature. A top Republican budget-writer and one of the four House lawmakers in the minority on the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee said conservatives are looking to cap current […]
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Opponents speak out against LePage cuts to immigrant welfare
AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s budget-writing committee on Tuesday heard from scores of people opposed to Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to eliminate welfare programs that help asylum-seeking immigrants. Speaking in French, Vincent Mwamba, 70, told the Appropriations Committee that he was a judge in his home country of the Congo, but when he refused to find an innocent […]
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C. Matthews: Helping our neighbors
The United States was founded by immigrants seeking a better life. No country in the world offers more opportunity than the U.S.A. Despite the obsession of certain public figures, not all non-citizens are here because welfare is so glamorous. Every single person I have met here in Lewiston who is from another country has greatly […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Portland, Westbrook ask judge to make state pay overdue GA reimbursements
AUGUSTA — The cities of Portland and Westbrook are asking a Superior Court judge to make the state pay more than $1.2 million worth of reimbursements for General Assistance spending while the cities challenge the state’s decree that such aid not be given to some immigrants. The two cities, along with the Maine Municipal Association, […]
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Maine runs out of funds for asylum-seekers
LEWISTON — About 50 immigrant families seeking asylum in Maine will lose state-funded food stamp and Temporary Assistance to Needy Family benefits in December, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. About $260,000 in temporary funding for the benefits, which help 128 individuals statewide, including children, has been depleted, DHHS spokesman John […]
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MMA sues for guidance on General Assistance for undocumented immigrants
AUGUSTA — In a suit filed Thursday, a statewide association for Maine cities is asking a judge to rule on the legality of a new policy from the administration of Republican Gov. Paul LePage that would cut funding to cities that provide welfare benefits to undocumented immigrants. Earlier this year, the Maine Department of Health […]
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Immigrant community, advocates decry ‘morally indefensible’ LePage proposal to cut assistance for refugees, asylum seekers
PORTLAND — Members of the immigrant community and their advocates gathered Saturday in Deering Oaks Park to protest a mandate by Gov. Paul LePage to end General Assistance to refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. As faith leaders called the order “unconscionable” and “morally indefensible,” the mayors of three Maine cities said they would not […]
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LePage policy puts squeeze on cities, immigrants
PORTLAND — Gov. Paul LePage wants to limit state welfare benefits to only those residents living in Maine legally, a move that could force municipalities to drop some recipients or risk losing government funds. But opponents say the Republican would be pitting have-nots against other have-nots in the state and feeding into a fear of immigrants. […]
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Maine AG says attempt to bar General Assistance for immigrants breaks law
AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Health and Human Services will begin enforcing a new rule barring state money from being used to fund General Assistance for undocumented immigrants. Attorney General Janet Mills and others called the implementation of the rule illegal, saying that DHHS had not followed the process of public comment and legal […]
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T. Hart: Macdonald cares for Lewiston
It is about time the city of Lewiston has a mayor who speaks the truth about immigrants coming to this city. The taxpayers just cannot afford them anymore. They need to go somewhere else. I cannot afford higher taxes because of them. The city should take care of its own who need it first. I […]