“DHHS Is Not Working To Keep Maine Kids Safe” — Bellows On Child Safety Failures

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🎙️ Q-Point Podcast | Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows — Part Two

“DHHS Is Not Working To Keep Maine Kids Safe” — Bellows On Child Safety Failures

In Part Two of our conversation with Maine Secretary of State and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Shenna Bellows, we shift into the core of her campaign platform—an “economic new deal” focused on affordability, housing, energy, healthcare, and government reform.

Bellows lays out a bold proposal to freeze property taxes for Maine residents while increasing taxes on non-resident-owned properties, arguing that out-of-state ownership is driving up housing costs and pricing Mainers out of their own communities. She also outlines a plan for state-backed down payments for first-time homebuyers, aimed at helping younger generations overcome barriers to homeownership.

The conversation expands into business climate concerns, including income tax proposals, regulatory burdens, and the challenge of keeping Maine competitive for professionals and entrepreneurs. Bellows emphasizes cutting red tape, streamlining state processes, and balancing pro-business and pro-worker policies.

On healthcare and workforce retention, she points to rising costs, rural hospital instability, and medical access gaps as major economic drivers—alongside childcare and housing affordability. Energy policy also takes center stage, with proposals to cap utility returns, expand solar access for low-income households, and improve permitting for clean energy investment.

We also dig into education performance, teacher pay, and school infrastructure, as well as DHHS reform and child safety, where Bellows calls for structural changes and stronger frontline support.

The discussion turns to accountability in government, including MaineCare fraud, procurement failures, and no-bid contracts—areas where she stresses transparency, competition, and oversight.

Finally, Bellows reflects on her leadership style, willingness to challenge both parties, and what differentiates her candidacy as she makes her case directly to Maine voters.

📻 Airs weekends on The Voice of Maine (101.3 FM, 103.9 FM & The Voice of Maine App).
⬇️ 🎧 Now streaming on QPointPodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music & more.
Produced and sponsored by Corenna Quirk, Broker at NextHome Experience.
This episode of Q-Point Podcast is prerecorded. The views and opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily represent those of the hosts, Q-Point Podcast associates, or affiliates.

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