Kansas Bans Poor People From Spending Welfare On Cruise Ships

[RandySF]

Kansas welfare recipients will be unable to get more than $25 per day in benefits under a new law sent this week to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's desk by the state legislature.

The bill also prohibits welfare recipients from spending their benefits at certain types of businesses, including liquor stores, fortune tellers, swimming pools and cruise ships.

"We're trying to make sure those benefits are used the way they were intended," state Rep. Michael O'Donnell (R) said, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. "This is about prosperity. This is about having a great life."

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, often known as "welfare," is one of several federal programs administered by states at the ground level. The Kansas TANF program, known locally as the Successful Families Program, offers a family of three as much as $429 per month in cash benefits. Kansas is one of at least 37 states that distributes benefits on government-issued debit cards, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/04/kansas-welfare_n_7001116.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

[valerief]

1. But can they spend it on opera or ballet tickets?

Makes one's head spin, doesn't it?

[spanone]

2. wasting taxpayers time and money.....this country is on the verge of insanity

[Mnemosyne]

3. Because we know how many of us poor people are taking cruises every month.

I can't even feel one iota of empathy or compassion for these idiots anymore.

[daredtowork]

4. Sounds like more anti-welfare propaganda

Trying to make people think that welfare money is spent on stuff like cruise tickets in order to justify cuts.

Also they should specify the TANF program - only families are eligible for that. A lot of people who need "welfare" are single.

[NCjack]

5. Buy a Lotto ticket. Win. Leave Kansas. nt

[Jenoch]

6. I don't know how many recipients are

going on cruises, but I don't think the EBT card should be able to be used to get cash from an ATM located in a casino.

[kcr]

10. Do you think the time and money spent ensuring this would be worth it?

I don't. But then again I tend not to fall for bullshit myths meant to get people to vote for bad conservative policies.

[LanternWaste]

11. It's decent branding for the A.M. radio talk-show crowd, but nothing of any real substance.

"I don't think the EBT card should be able to be used to get cash from an ATM located in a casino..."

It's decent branding for the A.M. radio talk-show crowd, but nothing of any real substance.

[Jenoch]

12. It happens where I am from, but if your

point is that the right-wing talk radio crowd would over emphasize how widespread it is, you might be correct.

There are 20 casinos in Minnesota. Three of them are quite close to the Twin Cities. The transactions are recorded by the state. I don't know how much of a problem it is, but I still think it should not be ok to use money meant to feed a family and gamble with it. Just because I believe that does not make me a right-winger.

[madinmaryland]

7. If a person/family is on welfare, how the fuck are they going to go on a cruise?

I suppose they could go if they were given the tickets as a gift, but why the fuck should they be penalized for a gift?

[Logical]

8. I have no issue with not allowing cigs or alcohol. Or fortune tellers. nt

[stevenleser]

9. As relevant as banning spending the money on trips to Alpha Centauri

But relevancy never has been a thought if Republicans.

[beam me up scottie]

13. How do they plan on tracking and prosecuting people who spend cash

at businesses like liquor stores, Madam Foo Foo's, etc?

How can they prove the money for that cheap bottle of wine came from the government?