PORTLAND — The attorney for a Maine business owner accused of food stamp fraud says he should be afforded the “time-honored American tradition of the presumption of innocence.” Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Monday called attention to a federal investigation into allegations that the man pocketed thousands under a cash-back scheme involving food stamps. An […]
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USDA says Paul LePage’s threat can end food stamps in Maine
PORTLAND — If Gov. Paul LePage follows through on this threat to cede Maine’s administration of the federal food stamp program, the federal agricultural agency said it can’t run it, due to a lack of authority and funding. Maine unsuccessfully applied for a waiver to ban using food stamps for buying sugary drinks and candy. […]
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Gov. Paul LePage: Maine will ban buying junk food with food stamps
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage says despite his proposal being rejected by the Legislature and federal government, Maine will move forward with restricting the purchase of what he calls junk foods with food stamps in Maine — or give up administration of the program altogether. “It’s time for the federal government to wake up and […]
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DHHS says Mainers made more money after going off food stamps
AUGUSTA — Making a moral case for Gov. Paul LePage’s welfare agenda, his administration released a report on Wednesday that touted income gains for people culled from Maine’s food stamp rolls. It revolves around the Republican governor’s 2014 move to reinstate federal work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents between the ages of 18 and 49. To receive food […]
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Obama administration blasts Paul LePage for food stamp policy
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has lashed out at Gov. Paul LePage for reducing the number of people on food stamps the wrong way. Vilsack told The Huffington Post on Wednesday that the LePage administration has simply kicked people out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program without doing enough to help them achieve financial independence. “I […]
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More Americans using food stamps, at a higher cost
Wendee Crofoot lost her job as a fundraiser for a nonprofit in 2011. After exhausting her savings and giving up her Mountain View, California, apartment she ended up working part-time as a restaurant cashier. The low pay qualified her for food stamps,so she signed up. “It wasn’t something I imagined would ever happen,” said Crofoot, […]
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Poliquin says bill would close federal loophole keep terrorists from food stamps
LEWISTON — Maine’s 2nd District U.S. congressman said Thursday he wants to make sure those convicted of federal terrorism crimes are not allowed to receive welfare benefits after they have served their prison sentences. U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, said current law allows some categories of terrorist criminals to apply for and receive benefits […]
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USDA says Maine is too slow to process SNAP applications
AUGUSTA — The United States Department of Agriculture says Maine is the slowest state in the country at processing applications for food stamps. Officials with the USDA sent a letter to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Dec. 7 that says data for the first six months of this year show the […]
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Maine to try another soda, candy ban for food stamps
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s administration said Monday that it has asked the federal government to allow it to ban the purchase of soda and candy with food stamps. It’s a longstanding goal of the Republican governor that is virtually assured to fail: States can’t regulate purchases under the federal and state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine has fewest residents on SNAP since 2009
AUGUSTA — Maine health and human services officials say the number of state residents enrolled in the food stamps program has dropped below 200,000 for the first time in more than six years. The state Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Family Independence says 199,157 people were enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, […]