yeah keep restricting where we can smoke but i know about your plan to make maine the first smoke free state you freakin morons welcome to maine RESTRICTION LAND peace

"Christine Hastedt of the Maine Equal Justice Partners advocacy group said the goal of promoting healthier diets in all Mainers is worthy, but that singling out food stamp recipients would promote stigma and drive people away from the program at a time when many families are struggling to get by.

A more effective approach, she said, would be a broad-based educational campaign about the importance of choosing healthy foods along with eliminating the availability of sodas and other soft drinks in public places such as the State House complex. "

Is this woman for real? The taxpayers are footing the bill for food stamps and should have a say in how it is doled out. If someone wants to rot the teeth out of their skull with Mountain Dew or Mr. Pibb, on their own dime, that is their own choice. Or, I know this is really out there, how about limiting food stamps to healthy foods. That would curb much abuse. The whole food stamp system has to be one of the most abused programs going. I am not implying that recipients be on a bread and water diet but something needs to be done.

OK OK, how is it a myth that somalians, other immigrants, and people from out of state come here and take our money.

I should be on welfare but I'm not a puss.

I know of a welfare recipient that works full time "under the Table" and, each month when he gets his welfare check, he goes directly to Hollywood Slots to gamble. He is also known to play "pull tab" tickets at the Brewer Eagles Club where he spends hundreds of dollars at a time. This fraudulant behavior is an insult to every law abiding tax payer on the planet.

Mainesurvivor - turn him in

People should earn there welfare volunteer to work in hospitals, clean streets etc. Also they should only recieve one year welfare in a life time. After that their own their own. They should also attend seminars on finding a JOB!!!!

This bill should include mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients.

ya know there are people who get welfare who do work and thay work as hard as the rest ,its not there fault that maine has one of the highest unemployment rates in the u.s.and lots of people dont have a choice,i do however agree that soda and snake foods should not be alowed,you should have to show were you used the money,and yes for those of them that dont work there should be some type of community service for those that do not work,also maine needs to look at there school systems ,alot of these people are not even educated enough to fill out an application,maine has never faired well in this area,keep cutting the school programs and its only going to get worse,but there are people that if thay did not have tanf of foodstamps thay would be homeless and hungry,and 85 percent of these will be children,CAN THAY COME LIVE WITH YOU PEOPLE THAT THINK YOU ARE SO MUCH BETTER,DONT LOOK DOWN YOUR NOISE UNLESS YOUMHAVE BEEN THERE

Scottsgirl1971....Can't feed em?...DON'T BREED EM

"Gordon Davis of Bridgton said he has witnessed “flagrant and widespread waste, fraud and abuse” within the welfare system. “Too many people choose to make welfare their jobs,” he said.

A number of people said Maine’s “liberal” welfare system attracts out-of-staters looking to live off public dollars, including an increasing number of foreign immigrants whose presence is “squeezing out” native Mainers from getting benefits. "

BINGO.

Learn the Myths and the Facts about public assistance in Maine: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/realfacts/top_ten_tanf.htm

well they should leave smokers alone we are only hurting ourself. why they don;t tax liquear and beer they hurt morew people.

RussHermon: yes, that would be a good idea. I know of a few people who wait for their checks then go buy drugs with OUR tax money.

Laura Harper of the Maine Women’s Lobby said it is “a myth in Maine that people come to take advantage of our welfare benefits.”

Must be nice to live in a dream world....but then again, most moonbats do.

I don't believe for a second that people will leave the food stamps program because they can't buy soda. PULEEASE Soda is one of the luxuries in life that we can live without quite easily.

This is AS I SEE IT, by Mike "Mainer Mike" Brown.

I truly am concerned witth the rights of smokers.

Yeah, right.

So I have to risk my life by being around someone's irresponsible acts because the have "rights".

It seems to me that some smokers really don't care about my rights to avoid lung cancer, and are more concerned with satisfying their cravings.

The rights of smokers are being chipped away? Isn't that just awful!

What about the rest of us?

I'm certainly glad that business in restaurants have generally increased in the places where smoking in eating facilities was banned. Many owners were afraid business would go down. But the rest of us frequent these places more now that we don't have to pay for somebody elses "rights".

Now, some want to ban smoking in outdoor restaurants and bars. Some smokers are against this. Frankly, I don't see what there arguement is.

How about the rights of waitstaff that have to inhale this junk? Their rights seem more important to me, and I can't see how anyone could disagree.

I didn't know there were "smoker's rights". for that matter there's not even "breather's rights". I agree with not being able to buy junk foods with food stamps. They aren't really foods, they're just junk. They contribute to any number of dietary diseases, and in the long run every body pays through increased health care costs. However, it would be a burden on merchants to upgrade their cash registers. These items should just be considered non-food items and taxed as such. It would be a usage fee, not unlike other proposals to expand the tax base. There was a snack tax bill up a few years ago that was shot down. I really don't understand the opposition here. These things are not food. They have no or very little nutritional benefit. My wife and I both work full-time with a couple of brief periods of unemployment, due to business closure. Unfortunately, we have had to resort to food stamps. We made a decision to buy only food items and buy smartly. The option was not paying the bills or not feeding the 2 children. I don't feel like we were using the system, but we probably could have. Frankly, we found it embarrassing to have to do it and drove to the next town to shop so nobody would see us.

“Are the Guantanamo Bay detainees next?” asked Roxanna Haggerman, also of Bridgton.

I thought the oh so wonderful Obama (ick) was shutting that place down?

As for smokers rights- We pay out the asssssssss in taxes to smoke. Have you seen the price lately? Smoking outdoors... hmmm OK so should we ban cars, furnaces and wood stoves and everything else mike? Pellet stoves are WAY worse for the environment then traditional wood stoves... but hey, why doesn't everyone just run out and waste their money on that load of CRAP?

As for foodstamps and what not... Scottsgirl... You need an education. Seriously. I got goosebumps reading your post, It upset me that the school system failed you so miserably.

RussHermon- I can'y agree more! If you can't feed 'em, don't breed 'em! But children are such money makers, why stop? LOSERS. I understand people like children (ugh) but if you can't afford to take care of yourself, don't expect us to take care of you AND your demon spawns that more than likely will grow up and live off the system just as they were taught. Some may not. BIRTH CONTROL LADIES. If you can't use it, keep your legs closed. Hell, if you can't AFFORD children, keep your legs closed. Birth control is DAMN NEAR FREE, oh wait, you have mainecare you say? Ohhhhh well.... Then i'll pay for that so you DON'T BREED.

CHRIST PEOPLE.

Also, Mr and Mrs taxpayer (and myself) How does it feel knowing YOUR money has bought drugs?

Ban Smoking Outright..

Funny, how the conservative "ilk" have all the answers suddenly. As many commentators here have stated, the welfare system is being overwhelmed with fraud; unfortunately this apparent or imagined fraud has not been reported on by these same individuals. As the writer of one comments has told everyone of his knowing about a gambler who works under the table, while hitting Hollywood slots- my question to the writer is: Have you knowledge of this persons fraud to the point where you have turned them in or is it all just something to talk about while sitting around the table drinking with your worthless friends who cheat the system. As for the smokers ,who believe their rights are being violated- TOO BAD CRYBABY! Also R. Cebra has been getting out of paying taxes at his private business for years and N. Augar is a lobbyist; exactly what are the republicans protecting, sode distributors?

Turn in a welfare violator? Good luck getting anyone to enforce it. The judges and prosecutors are cut from the same cloth as those dolling it out. This is exactly what needs to be done in Augusta to solve budget woes. It will be a miracle if this legislation passes. People need to be responsible. By the way, the people opposing this bil: Where are your stats? Claims of "people being hurt" by this don't cut it. If those folks aren't able to work and need support, that is what SSDI is for. Those are the very people who suffer when there are abusers of the system out there. If the system gets cleaned up, the people who truly need it will benefit.

Hey, barbara63, learn HOW TO SPELL.

I am tired of driving by low income apartments and seeing all the nice cars parked out front. I know someone first hand who has a 300 dollar minivan payment, gets her rent paid for and eats lobstah with the 700$ in food stamps she and her 4 kids get. I went to college and I am still paying for it, I have a decent job and my family isn't eating lobstah and buying brand new minivans.

luvs2ski - 4 kids, that explains it all. $300 minivan payment? That's like throwing money down the drain... it will probably he a lawn ornament... or parking lot ornament in her case, in ohhhh 3 years?

its a myth that people come to maine for the freebies????????

i know a couple that live next door, they move to maine about a year ago, have been enrolled in local community college, they have made it known that as soon as they are done with school, they are moving back to the state they came from in the mid west.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tell me that this is a myth i don't think so.

smartin the freak up augusta and get your heads out of you rearends and you hands out of our pockets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, mainbad, would it be responsible to turn in a welfare fraud case. Or would you blame a stroke of luck for your refusal to report such an incident? The DHHS is in charge of who receives benefits and who doesn't; if you don't like the job they do, fill out an application with them and take charge.

For a diabetic, a little candy may be just what they need to save their lives. This policing diets through SNAP could get interesting. Who likes hot dogs?

Hot dogs suck, unless you like feet and a-holes.

-

The diabetic doesn't need to go out and spend a buttload of money on candy, theres alternatives, and they could probably manage to buy 'candy' if necessary with their own money, OR maybe a medical reason? I'm sure there's a way.

"Laura Harper of the Maine Women’s Lobby said it is “a myth in Maine that people come to take advantage of our welfare benefits.” Many of those receiving benefits are single mothers who have left abusive relationships and rely on assistance to keep their families housed, fed and together, she said".

Laura is right, there are abused women and they should be provided for. What Laura does not mention is the thousands of women in Maine who continue to have multiple children born out of wedlock and reside with the father in order to collect benefits they would not be entitled to if they were married.

I understand that even in this day and age with the technology and services available to prevent unwanted pregnancies they do sometimes happen. If you CHOOSE to be an unwed mother with multiple births by the same or different fathers it should not be the taxpayers that fund the product of your sexual escapades. In many of these cases the kids get bare necessities while the moms and dead beat dads use the money for their own entertainment.

Laura Harper need to take her myopic blinders off and realize there are many contributing factors to the ever growing welfare rolls and food stamp programs and to only mention single abused mothers is extremely short sighted, self serving and self centered.

Sorry peteome, they wouldn't hire someone like me! I have, in fact reported an abuse. I was told that DHHS does not have the resources to investigate and that in general, the cases aren't prosecuted because they are of a low priority. Two recent cases of unemplyment fraud: I recieved a Deputy's decision that awarded unemployment benefits to an individual who had resigned (in writing). He had gone on line and applied for benefits and claimed he was laid off due to lack of work. Our company did not recieve a finding of fact interview, nor did we see a B-1 form which is the request for initial claim information. The state just started paying him. We had to appeal the decision, (which, by the way was computer generated and contained no narative by a deputy) and in the hearing the letter of resignation was produced along with the confession by the former employee. Guess what? Nothing happened. The state paid out benefits that they will never get back. How many time a week does this occur?

Hot dogs may suck but you can buy as many as you want with foodstamps. All the bacon you want plus ice cream too. There ARE alternatives.

Yes you can, and the nutritional value of a hot dog isssss? Granted they are cheap and most kids love 'em!

As for women who left abusive relationships, and these children, where is the father? Is he paying child support? If NOT, does he have a job? Are his wages garnished? Does he have a license? Is it revoked?

But one speeding ticket and I can't move my feet fast enough to please this state.

Is this a time to go after the poor and disadvantaged while we are giving millions of dollars to the rich and well off? Very poor timing methinks!!!

Disadvantaged.... LMAO!

When Beelzebubba is governor, he will give all welfare recipients a one-way bus ticket to Florida.

thats not fair beelzebubba! I wanna go to florida for free toooooo! But can it be round trip please?

grich1: You are so right! Thing is, we need to make sure it is to them that the help is reaching and not to those who do not qualify, or can provide for themselves.

Most of these comments make public the many myths of the racists and classists who hate their fellow Mainers. Maine has the lowest welfare benefits in New England. Out-of-staters do not move to Maine for their liberal benefits. The opposite is true Mainers on welfare move out of state to get jobs. The typical TANF beneficiary is a disabled baby - see how many of them can go out and get a job.

How many of those who claim to know of fraud in the system, report it. Maine has one of the lowest fraud and abuse rates in the country because most fraud is caused by providers not recipients of welfare.

These bill should not come out of committee.

Newell Augur of the Maine Beverage Assoc. cautioned "knee-jerk reactions that single out a single product or group of people", cause he lines his wallet with money from soda sales and distribution, but the smoking ban will "single out a single product or group of people" and he didn't seem worried about them too. It always comes down to the almighty dollar, not fairness and equality. Limiting items purchased on SNAP (still food stamps) is not a form of discrimination. That is ridiculous! If it is, then saying how you can spend your fuel assistance money is discrimination also. I cannot believe that anyone in need of food will refuse to accept SNAP because they can't use it to buy soda and candy.

outlaw I have a sign up all non smokers MUST go outside when a smoker lights up at my house. I don't smoke but I belive in whats good for one group is equally good for another

If Christine Hastedt wants a healthier state then she should start with banning all cab drivers, Doctors, airline pilots, truck and ambulance drivers and so on from drinking booze. It can stay in your liver up to 7days. I know I don't want an operation by someone techicnally still drunk or get on a plane with the pilot techicnally still drunk. Most of the people who are coming up with this anti smoking thing are drunks.

If you don't turn him in mainesurvivor your almost as guilty as "he" is.He's stealing from you too.

Mike Brown an unscented , uncolored candle lets off 11 toxic chemicals found in cigarettes, scented and colored candles as much as a cigarette.

Soda has high fructose corn syrup it has mercury in and causes cancer. Can I buy you a few? and some candles? I don't like commies. Most smokers I know will be happy to step away from someone if it bothers them but you boozers, and cologne wearers are down right rude. I think the next time someone wearing it makes me ill I'm going to sue them and whatever place allows it there.

The bottom line here is this the more you allow the government to take away rights the more everyone will lose, even the stuff you think is ok. I dislike inhaling car exhaust, body odor, colognes, booze, people who just plain suck as a species, welfare, but I haven't demanded all this to be illegal yet, but I think I will soon.

Does anyone else get the add on this website that shows Angelina Jolie with plump lips? Couldn't they find somebody else's face to defile? Some people will do anything for money, I guess.

Jonny Albrecht's been hittin' the bong again today, I see...

Personally I think it is complete BS that they are going after smokers AGAIN. I don't smoke but i don't feel it is my place to tell someone else what to do. When the reasturants had smoking and non smoking areas I don't ever remember being bothered by someone smoking 2 rooms away. stop making cigarettes, if everyone quits where are we going to make up the huge tax dollars we put on cigarettes.

And now they are hitting us on what type of food we can eat. Well I'll tell you what if I want a butterfinger and a pepsi that is my business not yours. And if I wanted to eat a pretend hamburger and go to McDonalds or BK that is my business too. I have no problem with paying my share of taxes but I am sick and tired of being told what is good and bad for me. I'm an adult, I know candy and soda and fast food is trash but if I want to eat it that is none of your business.

If your not on welfare, then there is no problem, eat what you want. Smoking is not a problem if the smoke doesn't interfere with someone else. Beer is not a problem because it does not get into the air.

I understand the non-smoker's position of not liking to be around smokers...but why not give the smokers their own places to be.... a Smokers Only place . Why wouldn't that work everywhere?.That way the smokers don't offend the non-smokers and we all have places where we can go and relax and enjoy ourselves! The non-smokers have the right to be in a smoke-free place...but the smokers don't have the right to a place of their own to hang out??? Sounds like a pretty one-sided view of life. What ever happened to 'live and let live'? Now if someone does something that we don't like we have to have a new law making whatever we don't like, illegal!

Not that it is your business Movethen, but I am not on welfare. I just don't believe anyone has the right to tell someone what they can or can not do if they are not breaking the law. Cigarettes are legal. I don't smoke but if you want to go for it. I don't like fast food, but if you do go have a quarter pounder or two, it not my business, and it isn't the governments. Next it will be coffee and tea because of the caffine and high blood pressure. Where do you think it will end? Where are they going to re-coup the money from the taxes on cigarettes if everyone quits smoking.

First off let me say that people are losing their jobs and that is something they have no control over. I am very disturbed at what RussHermon wrote quote " Can't feed em? DON"T BREED EM' what crack are you on anyways alot of ppl who are losing their jobs have worked for the same company for years do you honestly think that they saw into the future when they decided to have a family that they would be in the position that they are in? I highly doubt it. Also I was put into a situation where my husband lost his job and it was winter time we tried to get help but was told no sorry so me and my husband decided that Maine was no longer a place we wanted to stay so he looked for work in another state and guess what he got it. Unfortuneately that is life if you have to go out of state in order to provide for your family then so be it but it is very hard when you do not have the money to do that.

As far as the smoking thing goes well that's a subject that imo is beating a dead horse so to speak. I really do not understand why the smoking bashing is going on. Maine wants to strive on making it a Smoke Free State well after the billions of dollars that will be lost to the State in Revenues what is the price that Mainer's will pay when something else gets taxed so high to compensate for the loss on the cigarette tax? Last but not least VCHAPES I agree with you The Lawmakers and The Government don't care what we want they should have a new slogan "What you say goes in one ear and out the other" and we are suppose to have tax with representation what exactly are they representing anyways!!!!!

Witnessed "flagrant waste, fraud, and abuse"?? Let's see the documentation for that, and tell me how someone who knows nothing about needing food stamps saw all this. And the timing, equally out of it. Guess all those folks who lost their homes are not allowed to eat popcorn.

I guess Republicans just like their booze, fat, and sugar and have something against soda. What if it's sugar free no calorie soda? Are poor people allowed to drink it?

Guys like that just seem hell bent on destroying Republican credibility, not just the party. But frankly, I'm glad the party went down. This is the last gasp of the sick attitudes that put the rich "successful" sociopaths in jail. Bet Madoff would agree with you. "ME ME ME" and everyone else be damned.

Hey JonAlbrecht...you're full of it ! What planet are you from? The typical TANF beneficiary is NOT a disabled baby......where did you get that info?! Heck ,in my small town many people that live here are from away... few natives left. (Most natiives had to leave the wonderful state of Maine to earn a living) And get this....many transplants that live in Maine have college education! but they're Moonbats! So happy are they....so free....Why? Because they live on their rich parents land for free.....don't work....don't have too and never plan too........In fact, Jon, I think that is what you are..a Moonbat from Mass..Yes Jon, there is a Santa Clause. But he doesn't have a beard and live in the North Pole. He lives in Augusta and he's not fat but thin. And the freebees flock to Maine to get his presents.......But soon, sad to say , this will end. Tax payers are moving......and no one will be left to support their (your) free lifestyle.

Hey JonAlbrecht...you're full of it ! What planet are you from? The typical TANF beneficiary is NOT a disabled baby......where did you get that info?! Heck ,in my small town many people that live here are from away... few natives left. (Most natiives had to leave the wonderful state of Maine to earn a living) And get this....many transplants that live in Maine have college education! but they're Moonbats! So happy are they....so free....Why? Because they live on their rich parents land for free.....don't work....don't have too and never plan too........In fact, Jon, I think that is what you are..a Moonbat from Mass..Yes Jon, there is a Santa Clause. But he doesn't have a beard and live in the North Pole. He lives in Augusta and he's not fat but thin. And the freebees flock to Maine to get his presents.......But soon, sad to say , this will end. Tax payers are moving......and no one will be left to support their (your) free lifestyle.

Ljora1- Thanks for agreeing! lol

But as for "Can't feed 'em, dont breed 'em" I was actually talking about the 'younger' generation, alot of people in their 20's early 30's that are abusing the system. Which you have to admit is the laziest of them all. People that have worked their whole life are different, it's the people CURRENTLY on welfare that are STILL breeding that are screwing this place up. Obviously if you had worked all your life to have a family and all of a sudden can't afford to take care of your family, the last thing you would do is pop out a few more... at least any decent honest person wouldnt.

I hope Maine law makers seriously think about this time restriction on the welfare entitlements. If they are going to put time restrictions they better make sure that they provide a much more business friendly environment in the state to encourage healthy businesses to come to Maine. Poverty in Maine prevails because there is not enough jobs that pay sustainable income for Maine residents and it has been this way for many years. This is why so many families are still on welfare!

hey there mainers, guess what i'm from out of state. i did not move here for your welfare benefits i moved here to live and work. why? because i fell in love with Maine when i was stationed here. i had a job working full time and going to school full time with 3 children. now i have no job and need the help. i moved here from a state where i was fully employed and making good money and asked my company if they had a business here so i could be transferred because i actually like to work. i have been looking for a job i have sent out resumes, called companies, filled out applications and do you know what i have gotten out of all that NOTHING. if you don't want me on your welfare system bring on the jobs and i will gladly, gladly say goodbye to that monthly check. i am one of those few individuals who would rather get a check weekly or biweekly. outsiders see more than you natives do and i have seen companies hire someone who was only waiting for their social security check to start coming in and got a job just to supplement themselves till then.i want to work. it seems to me the ones that are fussing about the welfare system have a job and look at all of us as lazy, we are not. the state i come from you have the same type of people who just want to stay on the state, they don't want to work and will come up with every excuse they can not to work. i know a person born and raised here and is now receiving disability, why, because hes lazy, his claim is back problems yet he has never work at a job long enough in his lifetime to have back problems, me i shovel snow and i am laid up for 4 days because my back goes out, yet i still will work and deal with it and if i tried to get disability they would laugh in my face. so you tell me who is the one abusing your system. so all of you Mainers who say we outsiders are just here to live off of your system, take a look around and you will see that this has been going on for years and it is not us abusing your systems its your fellow Mainers. i know a lot abusers of this great system and they all are native to this state. for the person who made the comment about new cars in low income housing i have a SUV and my father had to die so i could have that vehicle and would gladly give it up and drive a car from the junk yard to have him back. give me a job and i will be a happy Maine taxpayer like all the rest of you.

Hey if you have a child that you can not feed, send them here, our last child just left home. That way we will ekeep them clean, give them a good home healthy food and a good education. You get steralized so you don't end up doing this all over again and above all get a job and off welfare.

The Welfare system is the most abused system in any state in the country. It was designed to give people assistance until they got back on their feet. BUT it turned into a system that sme people pass on to their children. The kids are tought by actually living in it to have children, stay home and let the State take care of you. Tell me I am wrong I dare ya.

I too am getting irritated at the cant feed em dont breed em comments. TANF is a child support program that provides cash to families on a time frame and work/volunteer requirements unless they qualify for an exemption, which is hard to do. Food Stamps are available to anyone who qualifies as is Mainecare. If you get Mainecare you automatically qualify for food stamps. All it takes is an unexpected layoff or firing or business closing to cause a family to need to apply for any help they can get until they can get back on their feet. Its sad that the few who abuse the system cause people to think all who get help are moochers and low lifew who are lazy.