Maine’s Democratic-controlled House of Representatives has endorsed a measure to ensure people seeking asylum in the state continue receiving municipal welfare benefits. Roger Katz that would direct Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services to request a waiver to prohibit food stamps from being used to buy certain products, like soda, chips and candy.
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“They have ignored the wishes of hard-working Mainers who see welfare fraud and abuse every day firsthand and are crying out for reform”, LePage said in a statement. Democrats said his measures would harm people struggling to get back on their feet.
Lawmakers had planned to head back to their districts last week, but the more than 100 bills that LePage has vetoed so far have dragged out lawmakers’ work, frustrating members of both parties.
The House overrode LePage’s veto of 11 other bills on Monday. He nixed several of them because they were introduced by Democrats.
The House voted 143-4 to keep alive a bill that seeks to expand access to medicine that counteracts allergic reactions. Governor Paul LePage has not commented on the bill, but is on record as opposing any new casino in the southern part of the state – stating that any economic benefit to additional casinos would come at the expense of Maine’s existing casinos. They also pointed to voters’ repeated rejection of more casinos. “We have learned so much from Colorado and Washington State, but the biggest thing we have learned is to not get caught off guard”, Russell said last month when defending the bill.
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