The Sun Journal article (Jan. 19) about some Mainers using some of their EBT card cash for some interesting things got my attention. I delivered oil for about 30 years in 20 different towns. A lot of my customers who received help deserved it. They had worked hard all their lives and it was the […]
welfare
Posted inMaine
Where Maine EBT cards are used out of state
Ninety-nine percent of the $164.2 million of EBT card transactions on a list of personal welfare spending data released by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services was spent in Maine. Of the remaining 1 percent — $2.8 million — half was spent in New Hampshire. The rest was spent or cashed in the […]
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Posted inMaine
Mainers use their EBT cash for interesting things in unusual places
Top 10 municipalities for EBT card use Municipality EBT uses $ Amount Total uses % Total $ % Portland 82,433 $15,708,206 7.96% 9.56% Lewiston 87,337 $15,576,077 8.43% 9.48% Auburn 47,281 $8,047,119 4.56% 4.90% Bangor 54,962 $7,771,625 5.30% 4.73% Waterville 37,732 $5,840,112 3.64% 3.56% Augusta 37,274 $5,702,054 3.60% 3.47% Biddeford 25,459 $4,112,455 2.46% 2.50% Westbrook 22,476 […]
Posted inMaine
Alexander to appear before Legislature’s HHS Committee
AUGUSTA — He was on the agenda and then he was off the agenda. Now he’s back on, and it appears lawmakers on the Maine Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee will get to hear, in person, from Gary Alexander. Alexander, the CEO of the Alexander Group — a Rhode Island company hired, under a nearly […]
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
Advocates protest proposal that would keep assistance from new immigrants
AUGUSTA — A range of groups focused on human rights and social justice rallied at the State House on Friday to cry foul over a proposal by the Department of Health and Human Services to deny general assistance to immigrants newly arrived in Maine. Robyn Merrill, a senior policy analyst for Maine Equal Justice Partners, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Local businesses don’t take EBT cards, but have ATM machines
But when the Sun Journal quizzed business managers and owners at local businesses cited in LePage’s news release, they all denied accepting the cards at their registers. They all said they have had ATM machines on the premises of their businesses at some point. In his written statement, LePage’s office says the numbers show “thousands […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage releases data showing EBT cards used at bars and smoke shops
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage released information on Tuesday that he says demonstrates that welfare benefits in Maine are being abused. But the data LePage cited to make his case for abuse represents a tiny fraction of all transactions involving electronic benefits cards issued to the state’s welfare recipients. The data was compiled by the […]
Posted inMaine
LePage administration withholds consultant’s report on welfare reform
AUGUSTA — State officials are continuing to deny access to a publicly funded study examining Maine’s welfare system, including the possible impacts of a Medicaid expansion here. The study, commissioned on a no-bid contract for $925,200 by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, is being completed by a Rhode Island-based consulting company, the […]
Posted inLetters
R. Casimiro: Veterans’ pensions take hit
The headline of a Daily Caller article of Dec. 18 was: “Senate Dems block amendment to restore veteran benefits by closing illegal immigrant welfare loophole.” The amendment referred to was introduced by U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and would close the loophole that allowed illegal aliens to claim $4.2 billion in tax refunds in 2010. […]