Virginia lawmakers vote to loosen restrictions on welfare, end ban on assistance for drug felons
The General Assembly passed a package of legislation this week to loosen restrictions on food and cash assistance programs for the poor.
One bill repeals a “child cap” aimed at discouraging women receiving welfare from having additional children after they’ve enrolled, which the NAACP opposed when it passed in 1995 and advocates call plainly discriminatory.
Another will allow disabled, homeless and elderly food stamp recipients to use their benefits to purchase hot meals in restaurants.
A third will end a ban on cash and food assistance for people convicted of felony drug charges.
The bill addressing felons easily drew the most debate, with Republicans arguing convicted drug dealers should not be eligible for public assistance and Democrats arguing the law punishes children for their parents’ crimes.
“Statistically, most drug convictions are from low income households and thus are unable to reenter society without (assistance),” said Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, who proposed the legislation in the Senate. Without help, she said offenders are more likely to commit additional crimes “which costs more money to imprison them than the cost of benefits.”
Under current law, people convicted of felony distribution or manufacture of drugs are ineligible and people convicted of felony possession are only eligible if they comply with court orders, complete a substance abuse program and participate in periodic drug screenings.
https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/02/27/virginia-lawmakers-vote-to-loosen-restrictions-on-welfare-end-ban-on-assistance-for-drug-felons/
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