Gov. LePage signs Sen. Libby's welfare reform bill into law

AUGUSTA — Maine will no longer allow the use of cash welfare benefits to purchase alcohol, tobacco lottery tickets or other products, after Gov. Paul LePage signed a bill by Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, into law over the weekend.

Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston.

“This law closes one of the largest loopholes that allowed welfare to be used in ways that betrayed Mainers’ generosity,” said Sen. Libby. “No one believes that cigarettes or liquor help struggling Mainers pull themselves and their families out of poverty. With my bill signed into law, we’ll know that welfare dollars are being used for their intended purpose — to help Maine people get back on their feet.”

Sen. Libby first introduced the bill, “An Act to Improve the Integrity of Maine’s Welfare Systems,” in December of 2014. He led negotiations between Democrats, Republicans and the governor’s office, ever since, leading to the bill being enacted unanimously in the Senate and with bipartisan support in the House on the last day of session.

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