State of Maine secondary Archives: on Families & Children
Angus King:
Best state to raise children; model for America’s Promise
Maine is now generally considered one of the best states in the country in which to raise a child. Just today, I received a letter from Colin Powell informing us that we have been chosen by America’s Promise as one of three model states in the nation for
our work on behalf of children. Powell stated that “a great deal of your work represents best practices” that other states can follow. I am tonight accepting Powell’s offer - and Maine will be among the first states to make manifest America’s Promise.
Source: 2001 State of the State address to the Me. legislature
Jan 24, 2001
Paul LePage:
Focus on services for children, not on expanding welfare
Maine's welfare expansion resulted in $750 million of hospital debt. We just paid it off. Some want to repeat that mistake. Look at the facts. Welfare expansion will cost Mainers at least $800 million over the next decade. It will cost Maine taxpayers
over $150 million in the next three years. Maine's current welfare system is failing:- Our children
- Our elderly
- Our disabled
- Our mentally ill
Thousands of our most vulnerable citizens are on waitlists for services. They need your
compassion.Michael Levasseur of Carmel has autism and needs care 24/7. Michael is here tonight with his parents. With services, Michael could get a job coach, assisted-living accommodations and participate in a day program. Maine lawmakers must
address these waiting lists.
We must set priorities on who will get services with our limited resources. Adding another 100,000 people to our broken welfare system is insanity. It is unaffordable. It is fiscally irresponsible.
Source: 2014 State of the State speech to Me. legislature
Feb 4, 2014
Zak Ringelstein:
Commit to fully funding disability programs
America has made progress with people with disabilities through legislation like the Americans With Disabilities Act, but it isn't enough. With 80% of Americans with disabilities unemployed, it is our obligation to re-envision an America where people
with disabilities thrive as members of a community with jobs. With funds drying up for housing, care, and services, we must commit to fully funding programs at the Department of Health and Human Services so that we can value every life equally.
Source: 2018 Me. Senate campaign website, RingelsteinForMaine.com
Jun 26, 2018
Zak Ringelstein:
Families are the backbones to society and need full support
Families are the backbones of our schools and our communities. We must give families every support possible to ensure we can stay together, be healthy, eat meals together, celebrate each other's joys, and raise up citizens who contribute to
American progress. We need to provide top-notch healthcare, better education, and be more supportive with family leave policies and childcare subsidies.
Source: 2018 Me. Senate campaign website, RingelsteinForMaine.com
Jun 26, 2018
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023