AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine's health chief is pressing the state's congressional delegation to help make federal changes to the food stamp program.
In a letter on Monday, Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew said that Maine people are concerned about the "proliferation of welfare benefits and seemingly lack of reasonable limits on their use.''
Mayhew included 15 recommended changes she laid out to members of the State Human Services Secretaries Innovation Group last week. Among the recommendations are putting limits on replacement benefit cards that recipients can receive and a federal requirement for photos on the cards.
Last week, federal officials threatened to cut administrative funding to Maine's food stamp program if the state doesn't make clear to recipients that having their photos placed on the benefit cards is optional.
