Skip to main content

Maine governor, legal chief dispute immigrant aid

By WTOP Staff

ALANNA DURKIN
Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic Attorney General Janet Mills are at odds over the governor’s directive to withhold aid to immigrants who can’t prove they’re living in the U.S. legally, and their dispute is causing confusion among Maine’s cities and towns that dole out the aid.

LePage says federal law prohibits the state from providing aid to those living in the country illegally, and he has threatened to withhold funds for a municipal welfare program if cities defy that prohibition.

But Mills says the governor is overstepping his authority, and she has advised municipalities to ignore his wishes.

Their dispute has generated confusion for cities and towns regarding Maine’s general assistance program, which is paid partly by the state. About 1,000 people will be affected and many of them will need assistance while seeking asylum through a lengthy process from places like central Africa, said Susan Roche, executive director of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project in Maine.

“These are some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” she said. “They are fleeing because of the really dangerous situations … and they need their basic needs to be met.”

LePage officials argue that cities and towns are free to use their own funds to help residents.

“Local taxpayers must speak for themselves,” the governor said in his weekly radio address. “I urge all Mainers to tell your city councilors and selectmen to stop handing out your money to illegals.”

Municipal officials worry that if they continue to provide aid to this segment of the population, they risk losing millions of dollars from the state each year. But if they follow the governor’s directive, they fear those who are denied aid will take legal action against them.

Mills said LePage has no authority to circumvent the Legislature, which must sign off on substantive changes. She said his new directive also creates other legal problems. Among them, it would transform municipal clerks into “mini immigration officials,” she said.

Portland Mayor Michael Brennan said the city is considering all options, including legal action, in light of the fact that the city stands to lose about $7 million — or about how much it received from the state for the program last year.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine says it’s also considering a legal challenge or joining with a municipality that chooses to sue the state.

___

Follow Alanna Durkin at http://www.twitter.com/aedurkin

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote