Cuomo Seeks to End City’s Fingerprinting of Food Stamp Applicants
New York City would have to stop requiring food-stamp applicants to give fingerprints under regulations proposed Thursday by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has sided with advocates for the hungry in arguing that the requirement discourages people from seeking the federal benefits.
New York State stopped requiring fingerprinting of food-stamp recipients in 2007, but granted an exemption to New York City at the request of the Bloomberg administration, which said fingerprinting was the best way to prevent fraud.
More than 1.4 million New Yorkers eligible for food stamps do not receive them in part because of the stigma associated with having to give their fingerprints, according to the Cuomo administration.
“For too long, requiring finger imaging from those eligible for food stamp benefits has created an unnecessary barrier to participation in the program, causing a negative stigma and keeping food off the table for those in need,” Mr. Cuomo said in a statement. “By removing this barrier, additional New Yorkers in need will be able to access the benefits they deserve without having to submit to this unneeded and burdensome requirement.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/nyregion/cuomo-seeks-to-end-fingerprinting-for-food-stamps-in-nyc.html?_r=1
Mayor Bloomnanny, WTF.