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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Could Maine's Food Stamp Solution Be Used Nationwide?

Food stamp rolls in Maine have plummeted in a year in what conservatives are proclaiming is a welfare reform victory that could be an example for the nation.

According to the Washington Examiner, the number of healthy adults without dependents who get food stamps fell by more than 90 percent, from 13,589 last year to 1,206 through mid-November.

In the fall of 2014, conservative Maine Gov. Paul LePage – who has run on a promise of welfare reform – started new work rules for food-stamp recipients that mandated any adult without children and who's able to work must do so at least part time, participate in job-training programs or volunteer to receive food stamp benefits.

"We have to make sure that our focus is on food stamps and other welfare programs being a last resort, not a way of life, and that we're promoting employment," Mary Mayhew, the commissioner of Maine's Department of Health and Human Services, tells the Examiner.

More here

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those that continue to receive assistance should be tested for alcohol, tobacco, and drugs - with a positive test leading to disqualification. Then you make a call to their phone while they're in the office signing up for assistance - if they receive the call in their brand-new iPhone 6 - another disqualification based event. Next, you drive out to the address on their application form...if the boyfriend's bling-mobile is parked out front - another disqualification based event.

Add these to what Gov LePage implemented and you've got some true reform!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a commonsense idea to me, don't forget the mandatory drug testing too.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 10:01am

Anonymous said...

not going to happen in Maryland. The Democratic politicians need the black vote to remain in power so they will not be as "conservative" as the Maine politicians. I would be willing to be the entire state of Maine would support this by over 90% but in Maryland it would only be the 30-40% of population (white republicans). Facts are facts and you won' hear about it because to speak about it publically would brand the speaker as a "racist". No, let's not make any changes and continue to foot the bill for these losers, criminals, and meth users. You would probably be better off moving out of state.

Anonymous said...

Very much agreed but the absurdity of moving away to circumvent idiots in majority is beyond recompense. If all of the sane people moved away then certainly the majority would soon become none as the foot that holds them up would be snatched away faster than they could say where is my check.

Anonymous said...

10:01am I get where your heads. A question for you though, do you self identify as a Republican or conservative? If you do you are setting the stage for multiple infractions of basic human rights.

Just tired of people yelling their opinions when they are in direct conflict with they claim to stand for. So chill out and think before you speak.

Other than that this is a common sense approach. We will always have some form of government assistance. There will never be 100% employment. The goal should be to make it as hard as possible to rob the tax payers.

Anonymous said...

11:29 yes a common sense approach would be what Bill Clinton of all people signed and Obama repealed. better yet take the fed out of it and let the States handle it without ANY federal assistance. see what happens then

Anonymous said...

It is time to get the blood sucking leeches off of their free ride.
Scum and trash....all of them!