Now is the Time to End Poverty in Maine
New Legislation Makes the Case
One in eight Maine people lives in poverty. One in ten Maine seniors do, too. In 2006, one in six Maine
children lived below the poverty level - an increase of more than 50% since 2001. One in three Maine people are
“near-poor.” They live below 200% of the poverty level and have real difficulty making ends meet.
Maine’s poverty and near-poverty rate is the highest in New England. Maine also has the highest number of
people in New England who are worried about not having enough to eat.
These numbers are very troubling. They’ve gotten little attention beyond a few articles in the press when
they were announced last August. Fortunately, that may soon change. Senate President Beth Edmonds (D. Freeport)
has introduced legislation
(LD 1110) to create a Council
on Poverty and Economic Security. The purpose of the
Council is to confront the extent of poverty in Maine. It will advise the Governor and the legislature on ways
to end poverty and provide economic security.
The Council will include members with experience on the issues of poverty and economic security. It will
include legislators, representatives of departments of state government, business leaders, and members of the
faith-based community. It will also include people with low income who have first-hand knowledge of poverty
and what must be done to eliminate it.
The Health and Human Services Committee has scheduled a work session on
LD 1110 for late February.
The full legislature will vote on the bill later in the session. Please call
your state legislator and ask them to support this important
legislation. We must all work together to create a plan to end poverty in Maine - for the sake of our families
and our economy, and because ensuring opportunity for all is simply the right thing to do.
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