A few years back, the federal government revamped the old AFDC welfare program and replaced it with the Temporary Aid to Needy Families program. In an effort to reduce the expense for this program, encourage participants to enter the work force, and alter the welfare mindset, a five-year cap was instituted. Federal money ceases after the participant has been on the program for five years. The individual states were allowed to continue the program, but at their own expense.

I have found that Maine is one of the few states that continues paying “temporary” aid to needy families forever. I have a couple of questions:

• What is temporary about a program that has no end?

• Why is a state with one of the heaviest tax burdens and lowest median incomes providing this type of assistance, particularly when most of the states and the federal government have decided it is not a wise choice?

With endless TANF, we attract people from all over the country who are not necessarily interested in becoming active in our work force. There is no incentive to have a planned family, as more children equal a higher TANF check.

The governor and the Legislature need to deal with this issue. This is one more reason why property taxes grow ever higher. Money at the state level that could be used for schools is being used for far too many feel-good programs that we cannot afford.

Bruce Merrill, Sabattus