AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage announced Friday that he will seek changes to the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program in order to avoid millions of dollars in federal penalties that he said result from a welfare system that’s too generous. Democrats said the problems in the TANF program are not new and […]
welfare
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage plans deeper investigation into EBT card fraud
AUGUSTA — Using existing resources within the Department of Health and Human Services, Gov. Paul LePage will launch an investigation into potential fraud of EBT cards. Speaking to State House reporters on Thursday, LePage said that initial conversations with DHHS officials and law enforcement have shown him the problem is “far bigger than I would […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage battles ‘cronyism’ accusation in controversial hiring
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday defended himself and his administration against accusations of cronyism in hiring Gary Alexander, a controversial consultant, to study and make recommendations for Maine’s welfare system and potential Medicaid expansion. LePage said he has met with Alexander just three times: One of those meetings took place in 2010, when […]
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 […]
Posted inMaine
Documents show LePage staff approved $1 million no-bid contract for welfare report
AUGUSTA — Despite telling a television reporter earlier this week he didn’t hire a private company to produce an analysis and recommendations on Maine’s welfare and health care programs, a document obtained from Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s office shows members of his staff, in fact, authorized the expense. LePage said Tuesday that the Alexander Group […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Republicans defend $1 million no-bid welfare review contract
AUGUSTA — Republicans on the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee on Thursday defended a controversial no-bid, $1 million contract with a Rhode Island company to study and issue an analysis of Maine’s welfare programs. The contract, issued to the Alexander Group, the group’s CEO, Gary Alexander, and Republican Gov. Paul LePage have come under withering criticism […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine targets elver fishermen in welfare probe
AUGUSTA (AP) — The Department of Health and Human Services is targeting Maine elver fishermen in a special welfare fraud investigation. The agency is reviewing catch records and tax filings from 2010 to 2013 to determine if any eel fishermen who received welfare benefits have failed to report income. The DHHS, the Department of Marine […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Fredette doesn’t have high hopes for his welfare reform bill
AUGUSTA — A bill by the state’s House Republican leader to require able-bodied Mainers to show they have applied for three jobs before receiving welfare benefits could be killed even before the Legislature reconvenes in January. Republicans in the State House have made clear that welfare reform will be their top priority in the truncated […]
Posted inOur View
Group behind welfare study no liberal lot
We’ve all heard it before. Maine’s welfare benefits are so over-the-top generous that the needy are coming here from around the country to take advantage of our largess. Except, apparently, they aren’t that high. In fact, according a story that appeared on the front page of Sunday’s Sun Journal, in a recent study comparing the […]