The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Investigations
    • Data
  • Donate
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Cyberattack Strikes Multiple Maine Hospitals, Remains Unclear Whether Patient Info Compromised
  • Lawmakers Approve Bill Expanding Ranked Choice Voting to All Maine State Elections
  • Puerto Rican Man Gets 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Cut with ‘Tranq’ into Maine
  • South Portland Voters Approve $73 Million School Budget with More Than 6% Tax Hike
  • Patten Man Announces Bid for Blaine House, Cites Maine’s Faltering Economy as Motivator
  • Newsom Suffers Legal Loss in Fight Against Trump’s Deployment of the National Guard in LA
  • Forced March in 11th Hour: Maine Tensions Flare in House Over Late-Nights and Weekend Sessions
  • Federal Judge Halts Deportation of Congolese Felon Held in ICE Custody at Maine Jail
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Thursday, June 12
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Investigations
    • Data
  • Donate
The Maine Wire
Home » News » News » Maine EBT cards used at bowling alleys, tattoo parlor, pet store
News

Maine EBT cards used at bowling alleys, tattoo parlor, pet store

Steve RobinsonBy Steve RobinsonJanuary 17, 20144 Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

bowlingCash welfare recipients in Maine may have spent portions of their Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) allotment at bowling alleys, a pet store and a tattoo parlor, according to Department of Health and Human Services records.

The Maine Wire has reported exclusively on evident abuses of Maine’s cash welfare program, including transactions occurring in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and in bars, liquor stores, cigarette shops and strip clubs.

An analysis of the data also reveals questionable transactions at Spare Time Recreation bowling alleys in Brunswick, Waterville, Hallowell and Lewiston. According to DHHS records, $880 in welfare cash has been accessed at those locations over the last three years.

Taxpayers have also footed the bill for entertainment sessions at the Woburn Bowladrome in Woburn, Mass. and the Newport Entertainment Center (NEC). Transactions at these locations amount to nearly $1,700 since 2011.

[RELATED: Maine welfare cash spent at liquor stores, strip clubs and smoke shops…] [RELATED: Maine EBT cards used in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands…] 

The TANF data also includes four transactions at a tattoo and body piercing studio in Windham, Maine. The studio, Windham Tattoo and Body Piercing, is named in transactions worth $300, $200, $140, and $100.

Lest humans have all the welfare fun, records show that in June of 2012, someone spent $20 in welfare cash at Pawsitively Pets in Scarborough.

[RELATED: Robinson talks welfare abuse with Howie Carr…] 

Revelations regarding the use and abuse of Maine’s cash welfare program were made possible through The Maine Wire’s Freedom of Access Act request. The data, which has been made public in its entirety here, shows millions of dollars in questionable uses of taxpayer money.

Steve Robinson
Editor, Maine Wire

 

EBT Welfare
Previous ArticleMoney Talks: Breaking down Michaud, Cutler and LePage’s fundraising reports
Next Article Our View: Calls for transparency should be bipartisan
Steve Robinson
  • Twitter

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

Subscribe to Substack

Related Posts

Cyberattack Strikes Multiple Maine Hospitals, Remains Unclear Whether Patient Info Compromised

June 12, 2025

Lawmakers Approve Bill Expanding Ranked Choice Voting to All Maine State Elections

June 12, 2025

Puerto Rican Man Gets 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Cut with ‘Tranq’ into Maine

June 11, 2025

<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="8020 http://www.themainewire.com/?p=8020">4 Comments

  1. Jonathan McKane on January 17, 2014 3:21 PM

    Those were all convenience stores.

  2. Janet Jamison on January 18, 2014 5:51 AM

    What I find dishonest about these breathless, over-the-top revelations on The Maine Wire are the facts left out. The “writer ” asserts all these questionable purchases but fails to report that these may have been ATM withdrawals at these locations, ’cause surely had there been a direct link to a purchase, our fine Guv’nah would be campaigning for public lynchings! We’ve already had analysis of this report which shows abuse to be minuscule compared to overall expenditures, so again, the “reporter’s” assertion that millions in questionable uses is political rhetoric at its worst. And only serves to stir hate in the hearts of all your “Christian” righteous! Egads.

  3. Steve Littlefield on January 18, 2014 9:06 AM

    The idiocy of the welfare system has been going on for years. It continues with the rabid support of democrats. When working class people are buying hamburg and people with EBT cards are buying steak and lobster you have a problem. When people move here having never worked in this state and get every benifit available, yet elderly farm couples have to beg for heating oil, you have a problem. If those that have never worked a day in this state are dumped from the roles of qualified recipients the state could better take care of those that actually deserve it. Those that moved here for better welfare, one last payment, a bus ticket to where you want to move. It’s time to take care of our own and weed out those that are perpetual freeloaders!

  4. wholesale nfl jerseys uk on October 6, 2014 4:54 PM

    Hi I am from Australia, this time I am watching related article about wholesale nfl jerseys uk at this, I am in fact happy and learning more from it. Thanks for sharing.

Leave A Reply

Subscribe to Substack
Recent News

Cyberattack Strikes Multiple Maine Hospitals, Remains Unclear Whether Patient Info Compromised

June 12, 2025

Lawmakers Approve Bill Expanding Ranked Choice Voting to All Maine State Elections

June 12, 2025

Puerto Rican Man Gets 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Cut with ‘Tranq’ into Maine

June 11, 2025

South Portland Voters Approve $73 Million School Budget with More Than 6% Tax Hike

June 11, 2025

Patten Man Announces Bid for Blaine House, Cites Maine’s Faltering Economy as Motivator

June 11, 2025
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.