Maine Mayor Wants To Publish Names, Addresses Of People On Welfare, length of time on assistance

[Liberal_in_LA]

A welfare bill so extreme not even Paul LePage likes it.

Robert Macdonald is the mayor of Lewiston, Maine, and he wants everyone to know who's on welfare and where they live.

In a column for a local paper last week, the mayor of Maine's second-largest city proposed an online registry of welfare recipients. He said he would submit legislation to the Maine State Legislature "asking that a website be created containing the names, addresses, length of time on assistance and the benefits being collected by every individual on the dole."

In addition to likely running afoul of federal rules, Macdonald's idea doesn't seem to be getting much local support. Macdonald had sent copies of his legislation to state Sens. Eric Brakey (R) and Nate Libby (D) in hopes they'd introduce it before a Friday deadline, but both offices told The Huffington Post they had passed on the idea.

"I don't think there's that much appetite for this sort of thing in the Maine Senate," Mario Moretto, spokesman for Maine Senate Democrats, said in an interview.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/maine-mayor-welfare-registry_56096591e4b0dd85030846b7

“[O]ur liberal, progressive legislators and their social-service allies have made them a victimized, protected class,” the mayor complained. “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!”

“Well, the days of being quiet are gone,” he continued. “We will be submitting a bill to the next legislative session asking that a website be created 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.”

MacDonald said that he would submit other bills to cap welfare payments at 60 months for a lifetime, and to stop any child from receiving benefits if the child was born into a family already on welfare.

Maine Democrats pointed out on Thursday that MacDonald’s welfare registry plan would be in violation of federal law.


http://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/republican-maine-mayor-wants-to-shame-the-poor-by-giving-public-access-to-welfare-recipients-addresses/

[daleanime]

1. I wouldn't support that bill, but I would like one....

that make public the mayor's pay and benefits, address, and length of time in public office. A long with every action he's taken while in office.

[yeoman6987]

6. His info is public record.

I still don't think regular citizens should have their info available. Public officials....yes.

[Shandris]

2. This comes as no surprise. Anyone who didn't know the list-stratagem was coming...

...when 'registries' were first passed isn't thinking very clearly. If it wasn't made POIGNANTLY clear when New York...I mean, "Gawker" did it to gun owners, you should probably consider a new hobby other than politics.

Also the expected result of societal shame becoming a weapon (again). Once this is kiboshed for being illegal, they'll end-around it by setting up a private company that polls 'public data' from 'multiple public databases' and cross-indexes them and then publishes it, with the added bonus that you can't remove your name from those most times, either.

[Omaha Steve]

3. Kinda like Rush wanted to see the sex tape

[wendylaroux]

4. what an asshole,

but I would tell him to go right ahead.

And hope all the welfare recipients held their heads up high.

[grntuscarora]

5. "There Is More to Maine"

besides Acadia, Mt. Katahdin, and 33,500 sq miles of nice folk and natural beauty.

They've got a few asshats, too. (Which state doesn't?)

I hope this mayor gets creamed in the next election!

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. Glad to hear it

[Snobblevitch]

7. What a dumb f*cking idea.

I highly doubt this will go anywhere. I am sure the viters in Maine would react accordingly if their legislature took this idea serious.