Assembly backs food stamps for drug felons

[The Straight Story]

Assembly backs food stamps for drug felons


SACRAMENTO, CA (AP) -- The California's state Assembly has approved a bill that would allow drug felons to collect food stamps.

Under the federally funded program, people convicted of drug felonies are banned from receiving the aid after they leave prison.

But states can opt out of that ban, and California lawmakers voted 42-23 Thursday to do that.

The food stamps ban was intended to discourage drug offenders from subsidizing their drug habits.

Assem. Sandre Swanson, D-Oakland, introduced the measure and says letting drug felons get food stamps will help prevent recidivism.

Opponents say the bill rewards bad behavior. About 900 California felons could become eligible for the food stamps, costing the federal government up to $1 million.

http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=81394&catid=2

[Lasher]

1. Good luck getting a decent job when you get out of prison.

You do your time and then it's over, right? Wrong. Society never forgets. Ex-cons need to eat. There shouldn't be a life sentence for every crime.

[SocialistLez]

8. I think once you do your time, it should be off your record EXCEPT

in cases of rape, murder, etc.

Theft, drug possession, selling drugs, etc. should be taken off someone's record.

One of my family members is in prison and I worry about him finding a job once he's out.
Our recidivism rate is awfully high in this country and it would tear my family up to see him go back.

[Lasher]

13. That is no longer out decision to make.

Junior gave Canada everybody's criminal records, even misdemeanors. It matters, and we will never un-ring that bell.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. Why do you want to coddle criminals? Invite them all to your house if you love them so much.

You'd think differently if your teenage daughter was drugged and raped. If you have done nothing wrong you have nothing to fear. Why do you hate America?

(Well, I think that covers every RW talking point on the subject. Is anything missing?)

[Lasher]

14. Nobody forced them to jaywalk!

If we don't make an example of them, there will be pandemonium!

I'm sure there's more.

[Caliman73]

15. You forgot...

They need to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps and be men" as well as, "When I was on welfare it was different, I needed it, I used it, then moved on. Nobody else should get welfare."

[D-Lee]

16. And trying to support your family ...

The people who oppose these sorts of benefits always seem to forget children and dependents can be the primary beneficiaries.

Really, really shortsighted.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

26. Tribal guilt.

You screw up, your clan is punished.

These people live in the tenth century. B.C.

[PJPhreak]

2. wtf?

"About 900 California felons could become eligible for the food stamps, costing the federal government up to $1 million."

ok,whats with the new math,how would 900 people cost a million bucks to keep in food stamps for a year?

[The Straight Story]

5. They factor in, multiple times, overhead costs to jusitfy budgets

example: Takes 10 hours total work to process (even though we are already paying the people to process it) X 12/hour, etc and so on.

You get the idea :)

Worked on a few budgets in my time, there are ways to make them talk :rofl:

[LoZoccolo]

7. That works out to $1111.11 per-person. n/t

[mikelgb]

12. Do you think it is too high or too low?

$1,000,000 / 900 = $1,111.11 per person per year, not that much

[KamaAina]

18. $1111.11 per year per person

or $91.67 per month. Not unreasonable.

[EFerrari]

25. About $23 a week. Seems really low to me.n/t

[Mojeoux]

3. Yes we reward bad behavior with food. n/t

[EFerrari]

11. Food is not a primary motivator for anyone over 12 or so.

I think we should just put these people out on ice floes, myself.

[Wednesdays]

17. Everyone? For every crime?

:wow:

[EFerrari]

19. Well, we could just eat them but some of us are vegetarians.

[madinmaryland]

20. Soylent Green??

[EFerrari]

23. Do you want to win the War on Drugs or not?

[Starry Messenger]

21. You are right.

We should also restrict their oxygen. That'll learn 'em.

[awoke_in_2003]

22. A snippet from the comment section...

in your profile:
"The U.S. is only getting more diverse racially, MORE SYMPATHETIC TO THE PLIGHT OF THE POOR and more and more tolerant and accepting of gay people"
(Emphasis mine)
Do you realize how hard it is to get a decent paying job with a record? These people served their time, yet they continue to serve even after their release. Let's say the ex-con has to feed his family and doesn't have a decent paying job. How can he do this? Well, he can supplement with food stamps, or maybe he can start dealing, engaging in theft, whatever. Instead of helping him out, we put him right back in the system. Some sympathy.

[SocialistLez]

4. Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindess-MUST READ!!

I am glad to see such a bill pass.
I hope other states will progress but I am doubtful.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. "Rewards bad behavior?"

Yeah, like allowing ex-felons to walk on the sidewalks is rewarding bad behavior.

[asdjrocky]

9. This is a good step forward.

[fishwax]

24. good n/t