Thursday, August 02, 2007
Rotundo, a Lewiston Democrat who heads the Appropriations Committee, said legislators want to help the state Department of Health and Human Services shore up administration of the program.
"It's one way of supporting the real good work they are doing with the food stamps," she said. "I see that as a positive support for the very aggressive work the state has done."
Gov. John Baldacci signed the financial order last month, and the committee voted last week to approve the funding so it could be disbursed in an expedited manner. The amount approved was $989,675.
The money was transferred from the department's "all other" account and put into personnel, according to the Legislature's fiscal office.
The federal government has warned Maine that if it doesn't reduce its error rate in the food stamp program, it will fine the state. A few years ago, the state faced a $634,000 fine, said Barbara Van Burgel, director of the Office of Integrated Access & Support.
Maine has the highest error rate in the country, with an average nearly double the national average.
An error is when the state pays too much to a food stamp-eligible family, or when it cuts off a family before the appropriate time.
A major reason for the errors is that workers who handle food stamps and other federal programs are carrying caseloads that are almost twice what they should be, according to DHHS.
The other complicating factor is that Maine provides food stamp benefits to nearly all residents who qualify for the program with a 96 percent penetration rate.
Rotundo said while the federal government praises Maine for getting help to those who are eligible, it is threatening to punish the state for administrative errors.
The 20 positions are considered limited period, which means they expire in June 2009.
Van Burgel said she hopes to have all the positions filled in three weeks. After a training period, the new workers will be on the job in early October.
In addition to adding the workers, the state also is reorganizing the way it handles food stamp cases.
"We think it's going to be a huge help," she said.
Susan Cover -- 623-1056
scover@centralmaine.com
Reader comments
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1. kids are going hungry in this state (lets not argue about it being because they're parents are lazy etc etc...fact remains...kids are hungry)
2. $1M to go to food stamp program
3. the $1M is going in the pocket of shuffled state workers?!?! instead of into the FOOD STAMP PROGRAM to develop programs to make sure kids are getting the food they need....
how the heck does THAT makes sense?report abuse
LOL.....
thanks so much for your innovative idea of how to stretch a buck and make a good sandwich out of next to nothing. Like you, I have a dollar or less prior to a payday. Here I thought I knew how to feed myself on next to nothing, not being a food stamp recipient, but you gave me a good idea !! I guess one can learn something new every day! report abuse
By the way "reader" the toast crumb remark was a goodun.report abuse
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