In a State House news conference Tuesday, Gov. Paul LePage unveiled a bill that would make some of his administration’s welfare policies state law. Updated 1:20 p.m.: Gov. Paul LePage unveiled a proposal Tuesday that would enshrine a smattering of welfare changes enacted and proposed by his administration in Maine law, putting his stamp on […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage tells town hall that welfare recipients need to work
YARMOUTH — Gov. Paul LePage told an overflow crowd at his town hall meeting Wednesday night that he will return to Washington, D.C., this week in an effort to convince his fellow Republicans that anyone who receives welfare, including subsidized health care, should be required to work. “I am going to Washington and that’s one […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
DHHS reports 174 welfare fraud convictions worth $1.7 million in 2016
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration has amped up investigations of Maine’s welfare recipients, although the number of cases prosecuted remains essentially the same. The state Department of Health and Human Services said in a press release Thursday that it referred 174 criminal cases for prosecution last year and uncovered more than $1.7 million […]
Posted inMaine
Trump and LePage administrations want to limit assistance to immigrants
WASHINGTON — While the issue of providing assistance to asylum-seekers is being debated in Maine, the Trump administration could be considering measures to limit how much immigrants can rely on assistance programs. According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, President Donald Trump is considering an executive order that would target some immigrants for deportation […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston seeing increased number of asylum-seekers
LEWISTON — The number of asylum-seekers receiving General Assistance from the city could nearly double this year compared to fiscal 2015-16, according to city records. Figures from the Social Services Department show General Assistance has been provided to 355 asylum-seekers in the first half of this fiscal year, from July 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage drops drug testing for welfare recipients
AUGUSTA — Maine’s tough-on-welfare governor wants to end the department’s current drug-testing policy in favor of something even harsher: banning food stamps and cash assistance for anyone convicted of a drug felony in the past two decades. Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s office says he wants to bag the department’s current drug-testing policy for those convicted of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine DHHS asks feds to OK Medicaid changes
The LePage administration has sent a letter outlining changes to Maine’s Medicaid program that they want green-lit by President Donald Trump. The impact of all of these proposed changes is unclear, but they include premiums and other changes that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release will be sent to the Trump administration […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Advocates turn in petitions to put Medicaid on ballot
AUGUSTA — Health care advocates in Maine say they have more than enough signatures to get a referendum to expand Medicaid coverage on the November ballot. Now it’s up to the Secretary of State’s office to verify the signatures. The Mainers for Health Care campaign said Wednesday the additional federal funding would cover tens of thousands […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Soda tops list of food stamp purchases, estimated $13 million a year in Maine
AUGUSTA — A new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is revealing the items purchased by a typical family on food stamps. The report reveals the number one item bought by families on food stamps is soda; in Maine—that adds up to an estimated more than $13 million a year spent on soft […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine loses $1.4 million for plan to convert to WIC photo IDs
Maine has had to forfeit $1.4 million because it fell behind on its timeline to bring a nutrition program for women and young children into a paperless age. Now, Gov. Paul LePage’s administration says it has “no plan” to upgrade the program’s technology even though the state has to under federal law. The delay is […]