Issue Position: Welfare Reform

Issue Position

My job as a licensed health insurance agent puts me in touch with the poor every day. I take personal offense to politicians who refer to Welfare Reform as a "war on the poor." I firmly believe that nobody really wants to live on Welfare. Of course, there are those who are unable to support themselves, and deserve the support of the community. There should always be programs to ensure Maine citizens who find themselves in unfortunate situations get the help they deserve. However, state politicians have created a Welfare System that treats anyone who qualifies for short-term assistance as if they are permanently disabled. The incentives to stay ON Welfare are greater than the rewards of getting OFF welfare.

This costly trap has resulted in nearly a third of Maine people receiving state assistance. This is wrong on so many levels:

1. It's not fair to able-bodied people.
2. It's not fair to dependent children who grow up knowing nothing but state dependency.
3. It's not fair to the hardworking taxpayers in Maine.

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