Tag: Mainecare expansion

RadioActive 4/10/14

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Program Topic: Waterville City Council supports federal minimum wage increase; the LePage administration’s attempts to restrict EBT card use, veto of Medicaid expansion bill

Key Discussion Points:
a) Last month, the Waterville City Council voted unanimously to support to an increase of the federal minimum wage to $10.10 and hour, and to send communications to elected representatives to support the Fair Minimum Wage Act, sponsored by Rep. Miller (D-CA) and Sen. Harkin (D-IA). We speak with the Mayor of Waterville.
b) The LePage administration is attempting to implement a change to include a photo id on EBT cards, which distribute funds for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). Based on past experiences, low income advocates and federal officials are concerned this would have an undue impact in recipients. 223,891 Mainers hold EBT cards.
c) LePage vetoes a bill that would have expanded Medicaid coverage to 70,00 Mainers under the Affordable Care Act. This is the third time he’s vetoed such a measure.

Guests:
Mayor Karen Heck of Waterville
Chris Hastedt, Maine Equal Justice Partners, public policy director http://www.mejp.org/

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Waterville_councilors_urge_federal_minimum_wage_increase_.html

http://www.raiseto1010.com/http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/gov_-lepage-has-little-to-show-from-fraud-hunt_2013-09-16.html

WERU News Report 2/19/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: It was announced yesterday that the Maine Department of Marine Resources is closing an area near the mouth of the Penobscot River to lobster fishing, for at least 2 years, due to mercury contamination. But nearby there are plans underway to dredge up highly contaminated sediment near Mack Point to expand the depth of the channel there from 35 to 40 feet. Testing done as part of the permitting process has revealed a long list of carcinogens and endocrine disrupters in the sediment. And plans to dump the roughly 1 million cubic yards of that toxic sludge elsewhere in Penobscot Bay have lobstermen’s associations, town councils and state representatives very concerned. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that an informational meeting about the project, to be held Monday, is slated to be held in Bangor, in the evening, rather than in one of the coastal communities at a time when the island ferries are running.
We spoke earlier today with Kim Tucker, an attorney working with the Zone D Lobster Council and the Sierra Club, and with Ron Huber, Executive Director of Friends of Penobscot Bay. Some photos of the site: http://penbay.net/dredgesite.jpg and http://penbay.net/dredgemap.jpg

Segment 2: Dennis Marble, Executive Director of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, weighs in on how Gov. LePage’s veto of Mainecare expansion is impacting homelessness. Recorded by Matt Murphy

WERU News Report 1/21/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Last week the Maine legislature’s Health and Human Services committee held a public hearing, as they are considering amended legislation that would allow for Mainecare (Maine’s version of Medicaid) expansion, but include a sunset clause, allowing the state to drop the program after 3 years. The expansion would offer coverage to 70,000 Mainers. The Affordable Care Act was structured with the intent that the expanded Medicaid would cover people with incomes of less that 128% of the federal poverty level.

Today we’re going to hear some of the stories, told by people who have no health coverage, their family members, and people who work with them

FMI: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1202099#t=articleTop

WERU News Report 11/19/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

With all of the focus on the problems with the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, a looming health care crisis for some of Maine’s most vulnerable residents seems to be flying under the radar. In January, 25,000 low income Mainers will lose their Mainecare coverage, and others will not be able to qualify. And even if they could afford to purchase insurance thru Obamacare, a loophole in the law means that they will not get the subsidies that those with higher incomes will receive to make the prices more affordable.

Looking ahead to the next legislative session, White House staff joined Portland Mayor Michael Brennan and State Representative Linda Sanborn in hosting a phone conference yesterday to discuss the importance of expanding Medicaid coverage in Maine. Here’s what they had to say. (Also features a clip from a recent interview with Mitchell Stein, Policy Director for Consumers for Affordable Health Care)

WERU News Report 6/18/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: Imagine spending 40 years in a six-by-nine foot cell. That’s been the fate of Herman Wallace, a prisoner in Louisiana. His story, and that of an artist who got to know him, is the subject of a new film called “Herman’s House”, which will be shown in Portland on Thursday night, and followed by a discussion led by writer and prison reform activist Lance Tapley. We spoke with him earlier today, about the film and the prison system here in Maine

Segment 2: In Augusta Monday, a group called “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” joined the “*No More Names: National Drive to Reduce Gun Violence*” for a rally and the reading of a very long list of names of victims of gun violence. The event was part of a 25-state national bus tour, promoting what organizers call “common-sense” gun policies, including comprehensive and enforceable background checks. We spoke with one of the participants, Larry Gilbert, a former mayor of Lewiston whose years of experience working in law enforcement led him to take on this cause

WERU News Report 6/12/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: In breaking news, today the state legislature passed a law requiring labeling of food containing GMO’s -genetically modified organisms–though it contains a clause that will delay implementation. We spoke with MOFGA’s Interim Director Heather Spaulding by cell phone, as she was leaving the state house this afternoon

Segment 2: In other news from the state house today, the house also voted 97 to 51 to pass the Mainecare expansion bill, taking advantage of temporary federal funding to extend healthcare coverage to more low income Mainers, following a lengthy debate. Here are some of the arguments for and against the bill, starting with Representative Linda Sanborn of Gorham