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Eric Brakey on Welfare & Poverty
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Disallow using food stamps to purchase junk food
What does it mean, in the year of Donald Trump, to be a Republican? As the party prepared to nominate him at its convention next week, a committee of delegates was trying to figure that out, starting with the issue of whether poor people should have
junk food.The proposal had come from Eric Brakey, a libertarian state senator from Maine and a member of the 112-person panel tasked with drafting the official Republican Party platform this week. "I would like to put in language specifying that when
Republicans are in control of the federal government, we will allow states to put restrictions in place so that SNAP benefits"--better known as food stamps--"cannot be used to purchase junk food," Brakey said from his seat on the dais, five tiers of
bunting-clad tables in a cavernous convention-center basement. In Maine, Brakey explained, the Republican governor had sought such a restriction but been denied by the Obama administration.
Source: The Atlantic magazine on 2018 Maine Senate race
, Jul 14, 2016
Allow some immigrants to receive public assistance
Summary by Maine ACLU: This critical law allows some immigrants, including asylum seekers who are not allowed to work, to receive General Assistance for up to two years. This means hundreds of new Mainers will still be able to pay the rent
and buy food for their families, regardless of where they were born.Summary by Bangor Daily News: The proposal originally sought to eliminate General Assistance benefits for certain immigrants but was amended to allow the benefits to
continue for up to 24 months. General Assistance provides emergency aid for housing, medicine and other basic needs. "My bill was amended to do the exact opposite of what it originally was supposed to do," said Sen. Eric Brakey. "I've been vocally
opposed to it going into place."Legislative outcome:Passed Senate 29-5-1, Roll Call #305, on Jun/18/15; Sen. Brakey voted NO; Passed House 81-63-7, Roll Call #334, on Jun/22/15; Enacted Jul/7/15 without signature from Gov. LePage
Source: ACLU review of Maine legislative voting records: LD 369
, Jun 18, 2015
Page last updated: Jun 17, 2021