Even as parts of Maine make a comeback, thousands of Mainers are still struggling to make ends meet. This reality is perhaps best seen in statistics regarding food insecurity; citing the federal 2013-2015 average, a 2017 Good Shepherd Food Bank-Preble Street study revealed that Maine is the third hungriest state in the nation.
To the one in seven Mainers (about 200,000 people) who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, this help is essential to put food on the table. They need it to survive. That’s why it’s unconscionable that U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin is a leading advocate for provisions of the Farm Bill that would reduce SNAP eligibility and add unnecessary red tape for recipients to jump through.
Making matters worse, Rep. Poliquin is also supporting other parts of the Farm Bill that will further hurt Maine’s communities. Maine’s growing agricultural sector is one of the most exciting parts of our economy, but Rep. Poliquin supports policies and programs that will make it more difficult for Maine farmers to compete nationally, favoring big corporations elsewhere over innovative programs that support local food production, environmental stewardship and community redevelopment.
He wants to make it harder for Mainers to feed themselves and boost innovation in their local economy, all while giving billions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. Our communities deserve better, and all our lawmakers should use their votes to demand a better Farm Bill that actually supports our neighbors in need and local food producers.
Nicholas Mitch
Brunswick
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