LePage’s budget would level general assistance; cities decry welfare cuts

[Maine-ah]

Source: BDN

BANGOR, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed biennial budget could result in a reduction of an estimated $260,000 from the city’s general assistance allotment at a time when need has never been greater.

Shawn Yardley, director of health and community services for Bangor, has said any cuts to general assistance would almost certainly need to be made up at the municipal level.

LePage’s proposed budget, released earlier this month, would reduce GA reimbursements to large cities that distribute the most aid but also receive the most money from the state. The budget also would limit recipients to 30 days of assistance in a year, something Yardley said could lead to evictions and increased homelessness .

Reducing reimbursements to large cities could save the state more than $1 million a year, but Yardley said Bangor would still be obligated to assist its most vulnerable citizens, and that group is growing.

Read more: http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/02/17/politics/lepage%E2%80%99s-budget-would-level-general-assistance-cities-decry-welfare-cuts/

[davidthegnome]

1. I still can't believe

that Mainers actually elected that asshole.

Of course it's going to lead to evictions and increased homelessness, if the bastard manages to pull this off. In addition to the energy assistance program being slashed in half... Christ. Balancing the budget on the backs of the poor. I know lots of people in my own neck of the woods who would/will suffer as a direct result.

[Maine-ah]

2. lol, we didn't..

ok, well technically we did, but he only won it with 38% of the vote.

[shanti]

6. was it a recall like here in cali?

that's about the amount that schwarzenegger got "elected" by here with his agenda.

[jwirr]

3. One of the best kept secrets about the cuts is a very simple one. Feds

make cuts to vital programs the state must continue them with state money. The state makes cuts and cities and counties must make up for them. That leaves everyone broke and it pits the rich and poor in cities/counties against each other.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. "would reduce GA reimbursements to large cities that distribute the most aid ..

but also receive the most money from the state. "
Most of the need is where there are the most people. Funny how that works.

Typical conservative/Tea Party bullshit. LePage will take credit for shrinking the state budget and hope nobody notices that it was done on the backs of the cities.

[crim son]

5. People will notice.

This is a poor state already. Much of the suffering is ignored because people live out in the country in crappy little shacks - cities here are only barely city-sized - however Mainers, one hell of a hardy bunch, are already holding on by mere threads. Lately the pain has crept into the towns where people will literally freeze in their uninsulated Victorian-era apartments without adequate heating assistance. And while Mainers are tough they are not the sort of people who will put up with a lot of bullshit beyond the norm. I believe LePage is in for a surprise, I honestly do. There's no "fat" to cut here.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. If it only affects Bangor and Ptld the rest of the state won't care.

It's a cynical move because those two cities will find the money somewhere and people in need of GA will be served (plus many people in the rest of the state don't believe that Ptld really is Maine, but I digress.)

The fuel assistance is another matter altogether. Being able to heat your place in winter is not optional and not everyone has a wood stove.


The really bad news is that the people of ME are stuck with this ass for four years.

[crim son]

8. Hmmm, I tend to think that most people

believe Portland is the entire State of Maine! But we agree completely on how badly we screwed ourselves by voting in a sociopathic, anti-intellectual fool for Governor. What goes around...

[Gormy Cuss]

9. Believe me, north of L/A I was frequently told that I wasn't from the *real* Maine.

To some Ptld's just Boston North (and they say that as if it's a bad thing.) :D

[crim son]

10. I hear you.

I'm in Bangor which is as far north as I can stand, in terms of the culture, and if I had a real choice up 'til now I'd be living in Oregon.