AUGUSTA — A Gov. Paul LePage plan aimed at moving more Mainers from welfare to work by allowing them to more gradually transition from public support as they gain income got a lukewarm reception from an organization that advocates for the state’s poor Tuesday. During a news conference earlier in the day, LePage rolled out […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage to introduce bill to address ‘welfare cliff’
[View the story “Tiered welfare” on Storify] UPDATED 7:46 AM: AUGUSTA (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage plans to introduce a bill that would implement a tiered welfare system in order to eliminate the so-called “welfare cliff.” The cliff effect is the idea that the welfare system may discourage those who want to work from […]
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Feds argue U.S. Supreme Court should reject Maine Medicaid case
AUGUSTA — The federal government is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s request to decide whether Maine can eliminate Medicaid coverage for thousands of low-income young adults. LePage’s administration asked the court to review the case in February after a federal appeals court denied its plan to remove about 6,000 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine to help food stamp recipients find volunteer opportunities
AUGUSTA — Maine is trying to help food recipients meet the volunteer requirement Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration began enforcing last year. The Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that it’s partnering with LearningWorks to connect food stamp recipients with volunteer opportunities. It’s also encouraging Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients to participate. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. LePage: Welfare fraud investigations, prosecutions up
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration says the number of welfare fraud investigations and prosecutions have gone up significantly. The Department of Health and Human Services says that it referred 81 welfare fraud cases to the attorney general in 2014, up from 10 cases in 2010. It says it has referred 35 […]
Posted inMaine
Wilton’s Saviello says state should take over General Assistance
AUGUSTA — A Wilton Republican said Wednesday if the state wants its General Assistance program run with fairness and consistency, it should take over administration of the program, which currently is run by town and city officials. “I am tired of the argument about one town not doing this the right way,” state Sen. Tom […]
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Maine immigrants speak out against welfare reform bills
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee listened to more than four hours of testimony Wednesday on a half dozen bills sponsored by state Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, aimed at making major changes to the state’s welfare and General Assistance programs. Among other things, Brakey’s bills would make those who have […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Brakey proposes 6-month hold on welfare for new Mainers
AUGUSTA — A Republican state senator is renewing an effort to require that Medicaid and welfare applicants live in Maine for at least six months before receiving benefits even though the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down similar restrictions in other states. Sen. Eric Brakey, co-chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, said he […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage says Maine residents want welfare reform
The bill, presented during a news conference Monday afternoon at the State House, is aimed at the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides cash benefits to low-income families with children. The bill has not yet been printed, which caused Democrats to warn that it could include provisions that LePage and Thibodeau are not […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine reports that work requirements cut 9,300 recipients from food stamps
AUGUSTA — More than 9,000 Maine residents have been removed from the state’s food stamp program since Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration began enforcing work and volunteer requirements late last year, officials said. The number of people that have been dropped from the program has exceeded even the administration’s expectations. About 12,000 adults who aren’t disabled […]