Maine Mayor Wants To Make Names And Addresses Of Welfare Recipients Public

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The Republican mayor of a Maine town said that he would like to publicize the names and addresses of people receiving government assistance.

In a column for the Twin City Times, Mayor Robert Macdonald of Lewiston, Maine, said that during the next legislative season there will be a bill submitted to create a website "containing the names, addresses, length of time on assistance and the benefits being collected by every individual on the dole."

"After all, the public has a right to know how its money is being spent," Mayor Macdonald added.

Macdonald wondered in the column why the information of welfare recipients isn't listed publicly when there is a website listing the amount of pension individuals receive in Maine.

"The answer: our liberal, progressive legislators and their social-service allies have made them a victimized, protected class," he wrote. "It's none of your business how much of your money they get and spend. Who are you to question it? Just shut up and pay!"

Macdonald, first elected in 2011, is up for reelection in November. According to the Washington Post, he is unable to submit a state bill himself, so he needs the bill to be backed by a state lawmaker in legislature.

A Democratic representative questioned the legality of Macdonald's plan. In response, Macdonald said that the intention of the website is not to embarrass recipients because welfare recipients already "flaunt it in public."

Macdonald said he is "not sorry" about the column. He said that posting the information publicly could encourage people to go after welfare recipients who are "gaming the system."

Macdonald's Democratic opponent in the November election, Ben Chin, said that the proposal was just a political stunt.

"Mayor Macdonald has been in office for four years and he's done nothing to lower our poverty rate and make our city better," Chin said. "Instead, he likes to scapegoat and publicly embarrass people."

https://www.opposingviews.com/i/pol...names-and-addresses-welfare-recipients-public
 
What a horrible idea ! Kids that have parents on Welfare have a hard enough time as it is . Now they'll have kids in school bullying and picking of them . The mayor is not even thinking how this will effect the kids !
 
Terrible idea.

People who are actually legitimately looking for work will be hurt by something like this as there's so much invisible discrimination going on already in hiring practices (consciously or subconsciously) and no it won't help with "going after those gaming the system"- it will become a witch hunt basically.
 
Its just to shame people...pure and simple.
Hes an asshole
 
Bad, bad idea! Its going to make these people on welfare harder time to find job. Thats because prospective employer will check on em and see they are on welfare which gives them false perspective as a lazy scumbags on welfare and won't hire them or give them chances.

Dumb, dumber, dumbest IDEA! Same with piss test for drug. RME!
 
I'm a little confused. Are unemployment benefits and welfare the same thing? I thought unemployment benefits were for people seeking work, and welfare was for people not seeking work, such as too disabled for work, or single moms with little children who wanted to stay home with them. Is the mayor wanting to post both lists?
 
No, Welfare is for anyone who has no income or limited income. There is time limitation how long one stay on welfare cash benefits (Usually total of 5 years in lifetime). If they are disabled, they go though Social Security, and some Social security reception use welfare for foodstamp, HEAP, medicaid but not cash benefit (I think).

Welfare client are supposed to keep look for job just like Unemployment benefit, the only difference is unemployment benefit last up to 6 months, then switch to Welfare if can't find job.

Reba said:
I'm a little confused. Are unemployment benefits and welfare the same thing? I thought unemployment benefits were for people seeking work, and welfare was for people not seeking work, such as too disabled for work, or single moms with little children who wanted to stay home with them. Is the mayor wanting to post both lists?
Click to expand...
 
Reba said:
I'm a little confused. Are unemployment benefits and welfare the same thing? I thought unemployment benefits were for people seeking work, and welfare was for people not seeking work, such as too disabled for work, or single moms with little children who wanted to stay home with them. Is the mayor wanting to post both lists?
Click to expand...

Welfare is charity, unelmployment is insurance. That's why you can only draw from unemployment if you've been working.
 
"Macdonald said he is "not sorry" about the column. He said that posting the information publicly could encourage people to go after welfare recipients who are "gaming the system.""

Sounds like he wants a witch hunt.
 
diehardbiker said:
No, Welfare is for anyone who has no income or limited income. There is time limitation how long one stay on welfare cash benefits (Usually total of 5 years in lifetime). If they are disabled, they go though Social Security, and some Social security reception use welfare for foodstamp, HEAP, medicaid but not cash benefit (I think).

Welfare client are supposed to keep look for job just like Unemployment benefit, the only difference is unemployment benefit last up to 6 months, then switch to Welfare if can't find job.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's called TANF.

Food stamp and Medicaid has no lengthy limit.
 
diehardbiker said:
Bad, bad idea! Its going to make these people on welfare harder time to find job. Thats because prospective employer will check on em and see they are on welfare which gives them false perspective as a lazy scumbags on welfare and won't hire them or give them chances.

Dumb, dumber, dumbest IDEA! Same with piss test for drug. RME!
Click to expand...

Yes, make sense, some people with disabilities depends on marijuana to survive - to get away from pain, sick and depression.
 
jonnyghost said:
"Macdonald said he is "not sorry" about the column. He said that posting the information publicly could encourage people to go after welfare recipients who are "gaming the system.""

Sounds like he wants a witch hunt.
Click to expand...

OH MY GAWD. Most people on welfare are on it temporarily!!!
 
The only thing I can say is that there are people who abuse the system. It can make you angry to see someone use their EBT card for food and then pull out cash for boose, smokes, scratch tickets and movie rentals. I see it often enough in this state but tossing it out like he suggests is tossing everyone under the bus.
 
I also have to remind myself though that most of the jobs around here for anyone who can't work construction are for $7.25/hour. No one can live on that. Minimum wage needs to be raised to $14-$15/hour but it's never gonna happen.
 
That not good unless crime committed ..Surely privacy laws apply...If that going to happen then every penny of his money should be publicity shown after all both are tax payers money...I not sure in uk if that done,I know when moving house it officially shown in case of money laundering which country got big thing about
 
I agree with Jonnyghost, lots of welfare abuse, but publishing names of recipients......no,no,no! I don't see that happening.
 
jonnyghost said:
The only thing I can say is that there are people who abuse the system. It can make you angry to see someone use their EBT card for food and then pull out cash for boose, smokes, scratch tickets and movie rentals. I see it often enough in this state but tossing it out like he suggests is tossing everyone under the bus.
Click to expand...

At least they're not trying to buy the " booze, smokes, scratch ticket and movie rentals with their EBT card . People try to do this hoping the person checking them out doesn't say anything. What a waste of money booze and
smokes .
 
It safety net not life style although many think it life style..Like everywhere get people who screw system but doing this will humiliate the genuine may even course retaliation.Disabled in some counties in Europe disabled people being attacked Germany examaple so refugees won't be popular
 
jonnyghost said:
I also have to remind myself though that most of the jobs around here for anyone who can't work construction are for $7.25/hour. No one can live on that. Minimum wage needs to be raised to $14-$15/hour but it's never gonna happen.
Click to expand...

Problem is that it doesn't matter what minimum wage is cause each time it goes up, everything else eventually goes up and we are back to where we started off.

What it comes down to is greed. If greed can be controlled (which it never would be controlled) then things could possibly change for better for everyone.
 
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