As a Christian pastor and taxpayer in Maine, I can think of few better ways to invest tax funds than to restore access to MaineCare for immigrants to our state.

I know how hard it is to carry medical debt. As a young adult, I had medical debt that would have been impossible for me to pay off had I not received charitable support from the hospital that cared for me.

Not everyone is so lucky. My church here in Maine has given financial support to a local immigrant family to help cover gas and parking at an out-of-town hospital. We shared money because we didn’t want them to worry about finances when they were also worried about the health of someone they loved.

In a year when so many of the essential businesses that have made it possible for us to survive the pandemic are staffed by immigrants, it seems only right to support this group of essential workers who often fall through gaps in medical care. Restoring access to MaineCare will literally save the lives and livelihoods of people who are the backbone of vital industries in our state.

Jesus once said that nations that offer food and water to the hungry and thirsty, clothes to those without, welcome to the stranger, and care for the sick and the imprisoned best represent God’s priorities in this world. Our state was more just and welcoming when immigrants had access to MaineCare. We should restore this access and live out our values more fully in this world.

I am asking the Legislature to please vote yes on L.D. 718, restoring this method of caring for the sick and welcoming the new residents to our state.

 

Chrissy Cataldo

Sidney