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