The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Maine Wire Podcast: Carroll Conley on Abortion, LGBT, and Religious Liberty in Maine
  • Dems Block Debate on Gov’s Late-Term Abortion Bill, Refuse GOP Questioning of Medical Experts
  • Partisan Vote Ends Brakey’s Bid for Welfare Work Requirements
  • Democrats Block Parental Rights Policies, Including Bill to Let Parents “Opt Out” of Critical Race Theory Programming
  • White House Bracing for Supreme Court to Kill Student Loan Forgiveness Program: WSJ
  • State Legislature Poised to Pass Bill Establishing Home “Energy Scoring System” That Will Be Voluntary — For Now
  • Syrian Asylum Seeker Targets Children in Stabbing Spree at French Playground
  • Study Shows Nearly a Third of Gen Z Supports In-Home Government Surveillance Cameras
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Friday, June 9
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » GOP welfare reform proposal similar to European model
News

GOP welfare reform proposal similar to European model

Steve RobinsonBy Steve RobinsonDecember 30, 20135 Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
dutch king
Dutch King Willem-Alexander (above) has introduced sweeping welfare reforms to the Netherlands

Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage will introduce welfare reform legislation in January that bears resemblance to sweeping reforms enacted in the Netherlands.

As the Cato Institute’s Michael Tanner writes in his Dec. 17 article, Lessons from Dutch Welfare Reform, “Welfare advocates regularly urge Americans to look to the European welfare state as a model. At least in the case of the Netherlands, they might be on to something.”

According to Tanner, the Dutch have recently announced a sweeping welfare reform aimed at reducing government dependency and encouraging work: “For example, welfare applicants will now be required to prove that they spent at least 4 weeks actively searching for a job before they become eligible for any assistance. And once they begin to receive benefits they will either have to work or perform volunteer community service. Dutch welfare recipients would be required to take available jobs even if they had to move or commute up to three hours per day.”

[RELATED: LePage to fight for welfare reform next year…]

The Dutch reforms followed a widely panned speech in which King Willem-Alexander told his country that the “classic welfare state of the second half of the 20th century” was over. He said the Dutch welfare state, among the most egalitarian in Europe, was “unsustainable.”

The LePage administration’s welfare reform bill was originally introduced by House Majority Leader Ken Fredette (R-Newport), but Democrats in control of the Legislative Council rejected it from consideration in the 2nd regular session.

[RELATED: House Speaker will continue work for major Medicaid expansion beneficiary…]

The Republican reforms are far less onerous than the Dutch reforms, but also includes a front-end work search requirement. The bill would require welfare seekers to apply to three jobs prior to applying for public assistance — a regulation on the books in many other states.

LePage’s bill includes no mandated community service.

Welfare
Previous ArticleBig Labor: Maine's two largest labor unions merge
Next Article Liberal think tank seeks analyst who can rebut Amherst Republican
Steve Robinson
  • Twitter

Steve Robinson is the Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire. ‪He can be reached by email at Robinson@TheMaineWire.com.

Related Posts

Maine Wire Podcast: Carroll Conley on Abortion, LGBT, and Religious Liberty in Maine

June 8, 2023

Dems Block Debate on Gov’s Late-Term Abortion Bill, Refuse GOP Questioning of Medical Experts

June 8, 2023

Partisan Vote Ends Brakey’s Bid for Welfare Work Requirements

June 8, 2023

5 Comments

  1. Ray Bates on December 30, 2013 8:51 PM

    It is a good start. Drug testing would be another good addition!

  2. Janet Jamison on December 31, 2013 8:51 AM

    Drug testing?@#$%& My gawd, why don’t we start cutting off their fingers and toes and make them wear scarlet letters? If you hateful “Christian ” types realized your venom should be turned on the real thieves who undermine our society, you know, the ones who pay less than their fair share of taxes, or none at all, we would ALL be a lot better off. But then people like Mr. Bares wouldn’t have anyone to help him feel superior! Sheesh.

  3. Ken Ryan on December 31, 2013 7:51 PM

    Well, Janet, if they don’t want to be drug-tested they don’t have to accept MY money with those strings attached. Simple choice.

  4. Janet Jamison on January 1, 2014 2:21 PM

    Mr. Martin, I think it would be lovely if we could control what is purchased with electronic benefit cards, but you know, the companies that may stand to receive some of those guaranteed free flowing tax dollars oppose any restrictions…maybe it’s time to redirect your venom…!

  5. Scott Manter on January 7, 2014 7:06 PM

    Even the so called GREAT “BONO” now says capitalism is the best way out of poverty.

Leave A Reply

Recent News

Maine Wire Podcast: Carroll Conley on Abortion, LGBT, and Religious Liberty in Maine

June 8, 2023

Dems Block Debate on Gov’s Late-Term Abortion Bill, Refuse GOP Questioning of Medical Experts

June 8, 2023

Partisan Vote Ends Brakey’s Bid for Welfare Work Requirements

June 8, 2023

Democrats Block Parental Rights Policies, Including Bill to Let Parents “Opt Out” of Critical Race Theory Programming

June 8, 2023

White House Bracing for Supreme Court to Kill Student Loan Forgiveness Program: WSJ

June 8, 2023
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.