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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:26 AM Jun 2014

Maine governor blocks aid for illegal immigrants

Source: Washington Post

BY SARAH FERRIS June 13 at 6:00 AM

Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services will press on with a plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the state’s welfare program after a weeks-long brawl with Maine’s Democratic attorney general.

The effort, led by Republican Gov. Paul LePage, would ban towns from spending state funds on emergency aid for illegal immigrants. Democratic Attorney General Janet Mills has fiercely criticized the plan, which she warned could “make every town in Maine a mini immigration office,” according to a report Thursday by the Portland Press Herald.

Between 50 and 90 percent of local emergency aid budgets come from state grants, which totaled about $13 million last year.

LePage initially sought to exclude both illegal immigrants and asylum seekers from the state’s cash-strapped fund, arguing that it should be preserved for the elderly and disabled. His administration said the latest plan would save $1 million and impact about 1,000 families.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/06/13/maine-governor-blocks-aid-for-illegal-immigrants/

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Maine governor blocks aid for illegal immigrants (Original Post) DonViejo Jun 2014 OP
I have lived in Maine almost my whole life. davidthegnome Jun 2014 #1
Why, LePage pulled himself up by his bootstraps, so why can't they? Gormy Cuss Jun 2014 #2
But why stop at withholding state funding? Let's withhold EVERYTHING! rocktivity Jun 2014 #3
Without knowing for sure, figured he had to be a republican. pampango Jun 2014 #4

davidthegnome

(2,983 posts)
1. I have lived in Maine almost my whole life.
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 11:44 AM
Jun 2014

I'm from the northern part of the State, which is pretty much at Canada's doorstep. The people here are generally friendly, pleasant, hard working. It's the sort of place where people who don't know each other will exchange a wave, a friendly smile and a few words. It's a beautiful land - and most of the people working in it have worked hard for all that they have.

Yet, it is also my County (Aroostook) that was largely responsible for electing LePage. I will never understand why people who are not rich jerks - who are otherwise intelligent, even charitable and kind... would have voted for this politically backward caveman. I cannot for the life of me understanding how this anti-labor governor somehow won Maine.

Illegal or not, none of us here (I hope) would want people starving on the streets. There are families with children who have come here illegally. There are individuals who work and live in our state (perhaps illegally) who contribute to our workforce, our educational system, and our overall strength in ways that are much needed. Instead of denying them aid when they are in need, we need to focus on making a path to citizenship more available and more reasonable. We also need to create jobs that are decent enough - that pay enough, to make it possible to grow and thrive here.

I really despise this greedy, egotistical, selfish and cruel man.

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)
2. Why, LePage pulled himself up by his bootstraps, so why can't they?
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 12:25 PM
Jun 2014

Asylum seekers lumped in with undocumented people. "Asylum seekers" is code for Somalis and other Africans no doubt.
He's a nasty piece of work. I do so hope the state is rid of him soon (and not just from the Blaine house, from the state.)


rocktivity

(44,555 posts)
3. But why stop at withholding state funding? Let's withhold EVERYTHING!
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 12:57 PM
Jun 2014

Last edited Tue Jul 28, 2015, 03:36 PM - Edit history (11)

If not being able to get emergency welfare will help discourage people from illegally crossing our borders, imagine how well their not being able to get ANYTHING would work! All we'd have to do is make it illegal to buy, sell, give, receive, lend, borrow, possess, request, exchange, barter, or share ANY kind of product, service, or currency -- private or public, legal or illegal, domestic or foreign -- if you're not in the U.S. legally. That would have them skeedaddling out of here like roaches in a light beam!

Since they would have no marital or parental rights, anchor babies must leave with their parents and can come back when they're 18 (as long as they're proficient in English and don't have a criminal record). If only there was a way to make it illegal from them to have sex or breathe our air...


rocktivity

pampango

(24,692 posts)
4. Without knowing for sure, figured he had to be a republican.
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 01:38 PM
Jun 2014

Classic "us" (elderly and disabled Americans) vs. "them" (undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers) rather than "us" AND "them" since the latter would require "big government" and even a dreaded increase in taxes on richer folks.

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