Democrats' comments touting welfare to lure immigrants under fire
The Maine Republican Party called out a pair of southern Maine Democrats for statements they made defending welfare benefits for immigrants during a recent committee meeting.
One of the lawmakers, Rep. Scott Hamann of South Portland, said that if there is evidence that welfare benefits attract immigrants to Maine, paying for the aid could be a good investment because the immigrants eventually become much-needed new workers who can help improve the economy. The comments were made March 2 during a four-hour work session of the Health and Human Services committee, which questioned LePage administration officials about proposals to cut welfare benefits for non-citizens, including some immigrants seeking asylum.
Maine Republican Party Chairwoman Demi Kouzounas issued a written statement Tuesday saying the comments are an affront to Maine’s working-class taxpayers.
“If Mainers could take a day off from their backbreaking work and listen in to what liberal politicians are saying about welfare and work, they would be shocked at how out of touch many of their representatives in Augusta are,” Kouzounas said in the statement. “No matter how much they lose at the polls, the Democratic Party remains the party of more welfare, less work, and more insults for the everyday, hardworking people of our great state.”
Read more: http://www.pressherald.com/2017/03/16/republican-party-slams-southern-maine-democrats-for-comments-on-immigrants-and-welfare/