Pennsylvania bill would ban use of welfare benefits to buy alcohol

[Terminator]

Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a bill that would bar welfare recipients from using taxpayer-backed benefit cards to buy alcohol. The measure, which also bans use of child support payments for alcohol purchases, unanimously passed the state House last week. It now heads to the state Senate, where a spokesman for Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, says he believes it has general support.
State Rep. Dave Reed, R-Indiana, said he submitted the measure after learning on a tour of a county assistance office a few years ago that such purchases were not illegal.
"I had no idea at the time that such a loophole existed," he said. "I don't think most people did."
Administration officials, however, question whether the bill is aimed at a problem that doesn't exist, saying there is no evidence that recipients abuse their benefits. Others say it perpetuates a stereotype that people who receive government assistance are irresponsible.

The state Department of Public Welfare and Liquor Control Board do not compile statistics on such purchases by the approximately 2 million residents who get cash assistance, food stamps or medical assistance.
"We are not by any means advocating that people use these funds to go to a liquor store," department spokeswoman Stacey Witalec said. "However, when should government play a role, and where is it intruding on grounds where personal responsibility should be playing a stronger role?"
The bill would bar the 619 state liquor stores and private beer distributors from accepting the department's electronic benefit cards. State store clerks are already supposed to turn away such cards under an agreement between the department and liquor board, but the bill would put the force of law behind the agreement.
The bill, however, could be circumvented if welfare recipients use their cards to withdraw cash at an ATM and use it to buy alcohol. And cards for child support benefits resemble credit cards, making it difficult for clerks to enforce such a law.
"It perpetuates the stereotype that women on welfare are irresponsible and immoral and can't make appropriate decisions," said Carol Tracy, executive director of the Women's Law Project in Philadelphia.
But Reed says any welfare money used to buy alcohol means that less is available for those in need.
"Taxpayers are generally pretty generous when folks are in need but get irritated quickly when they see these loopholes," Reed said. "It makes them more cynical in wanting to continue helping more folks. ... This bill is trying to correct that."

[121Traffic]

My thoughts are in bold.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a bill that would bar welfare recipients from using taxpayer-backed benefit cards to buy alcohol. The measure, which also bans use of child support payments for alcohol purchases, unanimously passed the state House last week. It now heads to the state Senate, where a spokesman for Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, says he believes it has general support.
State Rep. Dave Reed, R-Indiana, said he submitted the measure after learning on a tour of a county assistance office a few years ago that such purchases were not illegal.
"I had no idea at the time that such a loophole existed," he said. "I don't think most people did." While I wholeheartedly supposrt this guy and his effort, I have to wonder where the fuck he's been all this time if he's just realizing this now.
Administration officials, however, question whether the bill is aimed at a problem that doesn't exist, saying there is no evidence that recipients abuse their benefits. Others say it perpetuates a stereotype that people who receive government assistance are irresponsible.Maybe it's just me, but I don't see a problem with people feeling a little pressure from the stigma of being on welfare. It will get them to work harder to start supporting themselves without a government crutch. I'm all for assistance for those who truly need it, but hurry up and get out of your rut, so you can be proud that you did.

The state Department of Public Welfare and Liquor Control Board do not compile statistics on such purchases by the approximately 2 million residents who get cash assistance, food stamps or medical assistance.
"We are not by any means advocating that people use these funds to go to a liquor store," department spokeswoman Stacey Witalec said. "However, when should government play a role, and where is it intruding on grounds where personal responsibility should be playing a stronger role?"Get over it lady. Government's ALREADY playing a role here. And as the benefactor to these millions of people getting assistance, they have every right to make firm rules on how that money is spent.
The bill would bar the 619 state liquor stores and private beer distributors from accepting the department's electronic benefit cards. State store clerks are already supposed to turn away such cards under an agreement between the department and liquor board, but the bill would put the force of law behind the agreement.YES!
The bill, however, could be circumvented if welfare recipients use their cards to withdraw cash at an ATM and use it to buy alcohol. And cards for child support benefits resemble credit cards, making it difficult for clerks to enforce such a law.
"It perpetuates the stereotype that women on welfare are irresponsible and immoral and can't make appropriate decisions," said Carol Tracy, executive director of the Women's Law Project in Philadelphia.I don't see this to be the case. Last time I checked, the bill made no mention of gender...Carol Tracy sounds like a sexist bitch.
But Reed says any welfare money used to buy alcohol means that less is available for those in need.
"Taxpayers are generally pretty generous when folks are in need but get irritated quickly when they see these loopholes," Reed said. "It makes them more cynical in wanting to continue helping more folks. ... This bill is trying to correct that."

[lewisipso]

I don't know about in Pennsylvania but here those are just a bunch of feelgood words. Our recepients just go to the ATM and withdraw their cash money like anyone else. Our state welfare system is a joke. A recepient just goes and buys groceries and trades them for alcohol. There is no way to police the welfare system without a desire to police the welfare system.

[bayern]

I'll drink to that (what ever it is).

[irishmick]

Sounds like a good plan to me. Cash assistance and food stamps are two separate things here...are they the same in Pennsylvania?

[tapout]

I don't know about in Pennsylvania but here those are just a bunch of feelgood words. Our recepients just go to the ATM and withdraw their cash money like anyone else. Our state welfare system is a joke. A recepient just goes and buys groceries and trades them for alcohol. There is no way to police the welfare system without a desire to police the welfare system.

yeah, people here have the "independence card" and they can pretty much use it to purchase whatever. i always love watching some asshole use his independence card to buy 10 DVD's, and then walk out into the parking lot and get into his Lexus, to drive home to his section 8 government housing. motherfuckers.

[pgg]

This bill is racist. It is a tool by the white man to oppress the minorities. They OWE the people their Escalade and Denalli for all the evil things done to them by the Bush and Reagan