Reforming Maine's Welfare System

  • Reduced Food Stamp and MaineCare enrollment by over 20% each by tightening eligibility requirements. Maine's Medicaid enrollment in 2010 was No. 2 in the nation per capita; by 2015, it was reduced to the national average.
  • Reinstated work requirements for able-bodied, childless adults on Food Stamps, reducing welfare dependency by over 80%. They must now work 20 hours per week, volunteer or pursue job training to receive benefits.
  • Implemented an "asset test" for welfare, prohibiting those with boats, RVs, ATVs, jet skis, or other non-essential assets worth over $5,000 from receiving benefits.
  • Limited on the number of replacement EBT cards that may be issued, preventing the trafficking of EBT cards for drugs. 
  • Strengthened DHHS's welfare fraud unit, increasing its investigation referrals to prosecutors by ten-fold.
  • Removed Maine's status as a "Sanctuary State."
  • Banned the purchase of tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets, bail and tattoos with TANF cash.
  • Placed a five-year limit on cash welfare benefits, resulting in almost a 64% reduction in cases. 
  • Brought accountability to the welfare system by requiring drug testing for welfare recipients convicted of drug crimes.
  • Alleviated fraud and discouraged the trading of EBT cards for illegal drugs by putting photo ID on EBT cards.