When the going gets tough, take it out on the poor, elderly and vulnerable ”“ at least that’s what the slogan should be changed to here in Maine considering the Legislature’s response to the struggling economy.
First, it was Medicaid, more recently it was workers’ compensation benefits, and now, it’s the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, known as TANF.
More than 3,000 families throughout the state were notified in January that the monthly assistance they rely on to keep them from becoming homeless may come to an end this spring.
An added blow: Legislation is being drafted that would also make those families ineligible for general assistance from their communities.
It seems that when there is a hole to fill in the budget, there is no “shared sacrifice,” there is no real belt-tightening unless the program taking the hit is one of social service. State income taxes were reduced while state aid to municipalities shrunk, which means a lower budget for Maine government, but many costs being passed on at the local level as state benefits dry up.
Now, Biddeford Mayor and State Rep. Alan Casavant, D-Biddeford, along with State Sen. Tom Saviello, R-Wilton, are trying to get municipalities off the hook too ”“ leaving those in need with little or no options for assistance.
The already over-burdened food pantries, churches and other community assistance organizations will see more and more people at their doors, but they may not be able to meet the need either.
TANF, a joint federal-state program, provides cash assistance for low-income families for 60 months or less during an adult’s lifetime. States, like Maine, could extend the time period beyond 60 months, provided those receiving extended benefits were less than 20 percent of all recipients. Maine is one of the few states that provided assistance beyond the 60-month threshold ”“ until now.
Now, the Legislature is going to make a struggling group even more desperate, as work is hard to come by and benefits from all assistance programs are on the chopping block.
Biddeford’s Health and Welfare Director Vicky Edgerly pointed out that those losing TANF benefits will have to compete for jobs with the 48,000 people throughout the state who are unemployed and looking for work ”“ 7,200 in York County ”“ according to unemployment figures supplied by the Maine Department of Labor.
It is disheartening to see the state and federal government continue to put the pressure on those struggling in poverty by cutting all their access to housing, heating, medical care and food, while lawmakers call for lower taxes for businesses and the country’s wealthiest residents.
Written comments will be taken by the Department of Health and Human Services through March 19. We hope York County residents will take the opportunity to contact DHHS and let them know that such cuts cannot continue.
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An earlier version of this story was published with an error. This version reflects the correction. Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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