M. Turner: Moral priorities off base

I am writing in regard to the proposed Medicaid cuts here in Maine that would cut 65,000 of the poorest and sickest Mainers off their Medicaid health care benefits.

The thing to remember is that health care should be something that everyone in this country is entitled to. The poorest and sickest among us is not the place to start to balance the Department of Health and Human Services budget.

In June 2011, the Legislature passed a bill to lower the Maine income tax rate, and to increase the exemptions for the estate tax from $1 million to $5 million, with Gov. Paul LePage saying Maine can afford this.

Obviously, Maine cannot.

I, for one, would much rather return to the previous income tax and estate tax rates than to deny health care benefits to the poorest and sickest among us.

From my perspective, Gov. LePage's moral priorities are way off base.

Margaret Turner, South Paris

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Displaying comments, from newest to oldest

Wilma's picture
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Medical coverage

Until we stop paying medical coverage to those that just come here to live off this country as well as those that don't or won't work and to those that have babies with no regard to supporting it and knowing all they have to do is go sign up for benefits. Couples that live together but aren't married and decide to have a baby can just go sign up for all the free stuff cause "if your not married your eligible." When you find out you are pregnant you just go down and sign up for the check. Then you got kids that aren't getting an education and not a prayer of getting a job without one even if this country does get turned around and maybe bring back some jobs that we allowed to leave the country.
So if the cuts that the Gov. wants to make, the people that are here just to get away from their own country and all people that live off the system will still get their coverage but the elderly that probably worked all their life and the ones that don't work through no fault of their own are gonna be denied coverage and this will balance the budget? People that through no fault of their own that have had to seek help should be as outraged about this as anyone cause the help is not gonna be their cause its handed so freely to anyone.

mgr's picture
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We should insist, as a

We should insist, as a prerequisite, an unmarried mother MUST identify the father, confirmed through DNA testing, as part of the eligibility process. Identifying the father as UNKNOWN means no benefits.

The father then has the choice to support the child or reimburse the state for the welfare cost plus administration fees.

tactfultina's picture
verified

So Mark does that mean if a

So Mark does that mean if a woman identifies the father, it is proven, and the father pays child support and reimburses the state for the welfare cost then it is ok to give out the welfare? Cuz if that is the case I will argue it with you. As a TANF recipient you have to work with child support enforcement to identify the other parent, find the other parent, and get court ordered child support from the other parent that goes directly to the state of Maine. Failure to comply with those rules results in sanctions which under the federal law, prohibits you from getting benefits for a period of time, and preventing you from any extensions if you get enough of these sanctions. You also have to work with ASPIRE and either get education, job training, or volunteer 30 hours per week. So just to clear a few things up, it is NOT FREE money for the majority. Obviously there are some that slip through, but the majority of the welfare roll is compliant or they wouldn't be getting their money. If they do the problem is then administrative because someone isn't doing their job correctly.

mgr's picture
verified

Tina, While I’m not familiar

Tina,
While I’m not familiar with TANF’s requirements, I have no objections with the requirements you have stated with the possible exception of finding the other parent. Other than being required to report the whereabouts if known, a TANF recipient shouldn’t have spend time searching for the other parent. Unless a person goes underground for the rest of their life, they should be traceable through a myriad of mechanism, such as IRS records or credit records.

Moreover, I would expect TANF money not be considered “FREE” money. There are many people, myself included, work many hours for what we make, so it is hard for me to garner empathy on that point. There is truly no free lunch.

In closing, let me say I don’t mean any disrespect to your opinion, I’m merely expressing mine.

tron's picture

Ms. Turner, lepage has NO

Ms. Turner, lepage has NO moral priorities, merely selfish ones.

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