Harsh Welfare Reform Bill Defeated in Legislature!
MAIN Takes a Stand
Tammy Trask, a member of the MAIN Leadership Team, testified on behalf
of the Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods, opposing the
“5-Point Welfare Reform” bill, LD 254. In the end, this bill was soundly defeated on
the floor of the House and Senate.
MAIN was very concerned that several parts
of this bill would place many of the poorest
families and children in our State at risk of
homelessness, hunger and other hardships.
These proposed changes included a durational
residency requirement in order to receive
General Assistance; an inflexible 5-year time
limit for TANF assistance; and a 60-hour work
requirement for single parents in a job training
program.
Tammy helped legislators understand why an
inflexible TANF time limit was unreasonable
when she shared the stories of several Maine
families.
I have a daughter with spina bifida
and a son with mental health issues. I
have received TANF for over five years
working low-wage jobs when possible.
My own health needs, and those of my
family have prevented me from earning
enough to support my family. I was
finally approved for SSI but my children
continue to receive TANF benefits.
I am a mom who has four children, two
with Muscular Dystrophy. They require
physical, speech, and occupational
therapies. I worked as a CNA and had
other low-wage jobs but have never been
able to work full time because of the
health care needs of my children. Several
times I lost my job because I was called
away from work to care for my children.
As a mother with four teenage sons and
a four-year old daughter who have all
experienced long term domestic violence,
I have had to rely on TANF to support
my family. My sons all have in-home
counseling twice a week plus I take
each of them to individual counseling
appointments each week. I get calls from
their schools almost daily, requiring me to
come in and pick up one of them. I have
been on TANF for over five years and am
uncertain when I will be able to get a job
with enough hours and earnings to leave
the program.
These are a few examples of why MAIN
opposed this bill. These families’ lives are very
complicated. They face many more obstacles
than most in the struggle to find jobs with
enough hours and wages. Their stories help
others understand why the proposed bill would
have caused serious harm to many families
and children.
More harsh rules or threats to end benefits will
not help these parents care for their children
or find employment, especially in today’s
economy. If we want children who can grow
into productive citizens and parents who can
become more self-sufficient, we, as a society,
need to provide reliable supports.
Thanks to testimony from MAIN, Maine
Equal Justice and other allies, this bill was
defeated.
MAIN
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