Think tank: Maine has second-highest percentage of welfare recipients in the nation

The Maine Heritage Policy Center has released a report highlighting the high proportion of welfare recipients in the Maine and the significant increase in welfare enrollment in the past seven years.

The report, available on their blog mainefreedomforum.com, states that Maine is second in the nation for percent of households receiving food stamps, second in the nation for percent of households receiving cash assistance, and second in the nation for population of households receiving Medicaid.

The report cites that welfare system enrollment grew 70 percent between 2003 and 2010.

The Maine Department of Human Services has created a website to respond to questions about the use and abuse of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs.

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Comments

salemgirl1's picture

WELFARE

I believe it... just drive around Lewiston or Auburn at any time during the day (that is work day for those of us that actually have to work to support ourselves and the others not working) There are so many people just walking around in circles, making dope deals, soliciting men or women, baby momma and gangta wanna be's with their tatooed ugly bodies etc.... [This comment has been edited by the administrator] Get off your a#$, get off welfare and get to WORK. Oh I forgot that is a "dirty word" for some people.

preaves's picture
staff

This commented was edited

This commented was edited because it violates our commenting policy. Please read it.

Govt2Big's picture
verified

We should thank Libby Mitchell for this top ranking

This top ranking has been brought to the State of Maine by Libby Mitchell and all of her fellow Extreme Far-Left politician friends... and some people think she's qualified to be our next Governor. It's time for Maine's welfare system to be gutted of the widespread fraud and abuse!

veritas's picture
verified

MHPC Report: "Fix the System" sadly lacking in scope.

I read the entire 29 page Maine Heritage Policy Report "Fix the System" and came away with more questions than answers.

The Heritage Policy Center is obviously referring to the 'Welfare System' - yet that system is merely a 'Sub-System' of a much larger System; it does not exist in a vacuum, and, indeed - it is very greatly related to the external effects and forces which other systems within the broad economic spectrum exert upon the Welfare System.

Sadly, the Report's author, Terren Bragdon, CEO of the MHPC, failed to describe or identify the roles of these other players within the economic macrosystem within which the Maine Welfare System operates.

Nowhere did Mr. Bragdon discuss possible partnerships between business and government to both encourage investment and development while provide jobs and training for those on welfare. Where was any mention of cooperation with the Maine State Chamber of Commerce to foster communications to address issues of common concern regarding employment? These related systems also include labor and social organizations - all of which can be networked to match opportunities to perspective employees.

But none of these other related 'Systems' are mentioned. Only 'Fixing the Maine Welfare System' - Code for removing beneficiaries from the system, and spending less money. Mr. Bragdon, by neglecting to include the other systems in attempting to arrive at solutions to assist people and fix problems, has made his true goal clear. It's more about money than helping Mainers.

thinkingman's picture

wow I did not realize move

wow I did not realize move on.org would provide such cutting edge commentary on a small state'...

SelfEmployed's picture

This has to be wrong, we've

This has to be wrong, we've been receiving working Somali immigrants for the last seven years, no way this is right. Just look at Lisbon st.

BobStone's picture
verified

Working their butts off

Yup

thinkingman's picture

Gosh the liberal left is

Gosh the liberal left is going crazy on this one....what excuses will they use now..lets see - MPHC has been proven wrong before...ah not true, its all in how one interprets the data and/or where they get data from. MPHC didn't come to be a force in maine activisim by making things up...

northwoods's picture

sad

Baldy must be pi$$ed that we aren't number 1. I would like to know what state beat us.

Pirate's picture
verified

The state even uses the

The state even uses the number of Mainers on food stamps as a tool for attracting new businesses to Maine. How insane is that?

dlaurels's picture
verified

Maine Heritage Policy Center

This is a very right wing organization, and I think maybe they are not to be trusted for providing correct figures. Certainly, other organizations such as there are not trustworthy. However, even if the figures are inflated, the State of Maine does have a problem in this area. We very badly need to stiffen up the standards -- residency requirements, high levels of standards so not so many people are eligible; a cut off period (which I believe is a federal requirement of five years already), a volunteer or paid work requirement, and the requirement that all adults get a high school or GED diploma.

Pirate's picture
verified

Just because they happen to

Just because they happen to be a right wing organization does that make them incapable of reporting something that is true. One out of every 3 Mainers is on some sort of "aid" from their town, city or state. That's a fact.

tron's picture

the MHPC has been PROVEN wrong in its 'statistics'

numerous times, so any time they make a pronouncement, it must be taken with a grain of doubt. Not saying that is the case this time, but going by their track record......

thinkingman's picture

Dan, all day at home with

Dan, all day at home with nothing to do and yet still no FACTS to dispute the report....amazing....given all the free time you have...perhaps you shuld audition for the play at community little theater.. the role describes you perfectly "backside of a mule"...

Pirate's picture
verified

Proven wrong by whom? You and

Proven wrong by whom? You and who else? Lil?

dlaurels's picture
verified

Something is definitely wrong

I think that our requirements for receiving aide are lower thus more people are eligible. These standards need to change. Plus, we do a residency requirement of at least six months. I believe the federal requirements only allow a person to be on welfare for five years, however, if not, that should be another standard. We do receive federal money, however, we also use state matching funds to receive this money so at both levels, this need to change.

thinkingman's picture

Go to DHS and ask for an

Go to DHS and ask for an application packet for Mainecare...theyw ill give you all tyou need plus information on seven other programs you qualify for...even when you're not asking...as to TANF 5 year rule....read through the literature the state provides,..it clearly says that while the limit on TANF is 5 years, you may be eligible for an extension if you follow the rules during the initial 5 years....

crankbait's picture

maine

vacation land ON US

Centarie2000's picture
verified

and this surprises who?

and this surprises who?

pumpernickel's picture
verified

why were the 60+ previous comments deleted?

Why were the 60+ previous comments deleted?

preaves's picture
staff

You must be thinking of a

You must be thinking of a different story -- no comments have been removed from this story.

tron's picture

There might be a concern, but

the MHPC 'figures' are biased and unreliable. I am surprise the SJ publishes them, at the very least it should print them in the comics.

Pirate's picture
verified

Yeah, they should get that

Yeah, they should get that sort of information from media matters or move on.org. They'll give us the "real skinny" on what's going on. (wink, wink.

thinkingman's picture

tron, please feel free to

tron, please feel free to provide some factual data to prove them wrong...if you're goin to question the results and findings at least have some real data for your point, otherwise all we have is a guy who got tired of reading the comics and decided to be a joke on here.....

candiceanne's picture

Not good statistics for Maine

Maine also ranks 4th in the number of nonprofits but is definitely not 4th in population. In addition for every $1 paid in federal income tax whether personal, a Maine corporation, or an outside corporations operations in Maine, $1.79 comes back. These are not good statistics.

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