LEWISTON, Maine — Robert Macdonald, who is seeking re-election to a third term as Lewiston’s mayor, intends to submit a bill to the Legislature to require the creation of a website that would list the names of people on welfare, as well as their addresses, lengths of time on welfare and types of benefits they’ve received.

All of that information is shielded from the public under current law, and Macdonald believes that should change so taxpayers know who is getting what. But a Democratic legislator who co-chairs the Health and Human Services Committee noted that even if state laws change, federal restrictions will make it impossible to list the names publicly.

Macdonald introduced his plan in a regular column he writes for the Twin City Times.

He would still want to protect a person’s medical records, financial statements and other personal information from “busybodies who seek it out of curiosity.”

In his column, titled “Enough is Enough,” Macdonald points out that “in Maine there is a website that lists the pension amounts received by everyone who is issued a monthly check by the state of Maine. No privacy here because this is being paid out by the state; accordingly, taxpayers have a right to know.”

Yet, he said, “other recipients of state revenues are shielded. Yes, I am referring to those known as welfare recipients.”

In the column, Macdonald blames “our liberal, progressive legislators and their social-service allies (who) have made them a victimized, protected class.”

Macdonald, who has earned a reputation for fighting welfare fraud during his two terms in office, said “the days of being quiet are gone.”

He does not yet have a sponsor for the bill.

In addition to the bill to make welfare benefits public records, Macdonald said he will ask lawmakers to submit House Resolve 368, “which will bring local General Assistance into compliance with federal laws that limit General Assistance to a 60-month total lifetime benefit.”