'LIFT 2.0' bill will increase earnings, reduce poverty with job training, education

On Tuesday, Maine’s Speaker of the House, Sara Gideon, presented a bill to reduce poverty by expanding access to education and job training. The legislation will lift […]

Governor's Own Report Reveals the Human Cost of His War on the Poor

Destitute and driven deeper into poverty. That’s the result of the LePage administration’s policies for one in seven families removed from the state’s welfare program in 2012. […]

Testimony in Support of LDS 336, 481, and 1302 concerning the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program

Real reform of Maine’s safety net programs requires addressing the causes of poverty, and the ability of Mainers to get into work, education, or training. This legislation […]

BDN reports dire consequences for Maine children from LePage assault on TANF

In a painstakingly detailed investigation, the Bangor Daily News (BDN) has pulled back the curtain, exposing the LePage administration’s maneuvering to undermine the federally funded Temporary Assistance to […]

Maine's TANF caseload, 2005-2016 (line graph)

Testimony in Opposition to LD 1375: An Act To Increase Accountability in Maine's Welfare Programs

Of all the provisions of LD 1375, MECEP is most concerned with the changes to the Parents as Scholars (PaS) program, which would effectively preclude parents from […]

Testimony Neither For nor Against LD 1402: An Act To Reward Work Performed by Welfare Recipients

MECEP fully supports the intent of this bill; however, we are concerned that portions of the bill actually will exacerbate the effects of the “welfare cliff” for […]

Testimony at Hearing on LD 1842: An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program

While I oppose the elimination of the TANF good cause provision, I am especially concerned by the proposed elimination of the Parents as Scholars (PAS) program.  PAS […]

State Policies Are Failing Maine's Working Moms

In 2012, women headed one of every three low-income working families in Maine, according to a new report released today by the Working Poor Families Project. These […]