LEWISTON — The 2018-19 season of the Great Falls Forum kicks off Thursday, with Joseph Jackson, coordinator of the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition and program coordinator with Maine Inside Out. His talk is titled “Prison Reform in Maine, and the Need for Those with Lived Experience to Lead the Discussion.” It will be held from […]
reform
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston mayor wants public listing of welfare recipients
LEWISTON — Mayor Robert Macdonald, who is seeking re-election to a third term, said he intends to submit a bill to the Legislature to require the creation of a website listing names of people on welfare, their addresses, length of time on welfare and types of benefits received. All of that information is shielded from […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine
Maine benefit bartering. Growing form of fraud: EBT cards to buy drugs
But also in Robinson’s possession that day were six state-issued electronic benefit transfer cards — essentially debit cards loaded with welfare benefits, with some benefits available as cash — from state and federal programs meant to help poor families and children. Those cards had been reported lost or stolen by their owners 114 times and re-issued […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Lewiston lawmaker wants to limit cash withdrawals of welfare benefits
LEWISTON — A Lewiston Democrat is offering a bill that would limit the amount of cash welfare recipients could withdraw on state-issued electronic benefit transfer cards to 25 percent of their monthly benefit amount. The bill, LD 1097, proposed by state Sen. Nate Libby, also would restrict the use of Maine-issued EBT cards to Maine […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Forum focuses on tax reform and LePage budget plan
LEWISTON — The chief architect of a state tax reform plan that was rejected by the Legislature in 2013 said Friday that he sees hope on the horizon for a Gov. Paul LePage budget proposal that includes similar reforms. Former state Sen. Dick Woodbury, a Yarmouth independent, said LePage’s 2016-17 state budget proposal, currently being […]
Posted inMaine
Cutler calls for voting reform on Maine primary day
LEWISTON — Eliot Cutler, an independent candidate for governor in Maine, was taking the opportunity Tuesday to call attention to state election laws he said were unfair and did not reflect a true democracy. “We have let money and special interests corrupt our politics and steal our democracy right out from under us,” Cutler said […]
Posted inMaine
Maine House sends welfare reform measure to state Senate
AUGUSTA — In a series of party-line votes Thursday, the Maine House sent to the Senate a slate of bills aimed at reforming Maine’s welfare system, including how state-issued electronic benefit transfer cards could be used. Four bills offered by Republican Gov. Paul LePage were either watered down into legislative resolves or defeated outright by […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine governor hammers away at welfare fraud
AUGUSTA — Maine Gov. Paul LePage plans to introduce legislation to address welfare fraud that he cited in Electronic Benefit Transfer card transactions made at liquor stores, smoke shops and strip clubs. LePage introduced data last week that indicate there were 3,000 Electronic Benefit Transfer card transactions made at shops in Maine that primarily sell […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Democrats will consider EBT limits but oppose other welfare bills
AUGUSTA — Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves said Wednesday that he’s open to a proposal by Republican Gov. Paul LePage to limit what products can be bought with cash welfare benefits, but said his party would fight two other welfare reform bills the governor will introduce in January. “No one wants to see assistance for […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage proposes welfare reform bills
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage announced plans Tuesday to introduce three welfare reform bills for the next legislative session, which begins in January. Among the proposed legislation will be two welfare reform bills sponsored by House Republican Leader Ken Fredette of Newport. Those bills were rejected by the Democrat-controlled Legislative Council, but will move toward […]