Something needs to be done in Maine to stop welfare recipients from spending their benefits on anything that isn’t a need.

Thousands of Maine children go without food, clothing and shelter because of the lack of parental concern for their children’s well-being. Instead of taking away help that the children in Maine need, the welfare system should be changed.

In my opinion, the vouchers parents get to pay rent should be sent directly to the landlord, and vouchers for electricity should be sent directly to the power company. If it’s clothing the children need, the parents should have to show receipts for money spent on that.

It is my understanding that if someone gets assistance from the town, they have to produce receipts, so why should other assistance be any different?

When someone purchases an item at a store, a record of that transaction should be taken. Instead of paying a person to do studies on where welfare funds are spent, someone should be paid to pull random checks on EBT  cards and prosecute people who are doing illegal transactions.

Take back control in this out-of-control society, make adults become accountable and put the burden of proof back on them. There would be a lot less fraud if something was done to keep people honest.

Stephanie Cornish