On a straight party-line vote California lawmakers gave the green light for welfare recipients to purchase alcohol and tobacco products using taxpayer money. The insanity in the Golden State continues despite the state’s $23 billion deficit and double-digit unemployment.
Recently California changed the way it disperses food stamps. In an effort to take the stigma away from food stamps the state issues welfare beneficiaries with an Electronic Benefits Card which looks and works like an ATM card.
The Golden State doles out welfare benefits through the CalWORKS program. In the past welfare recipients were not allowed to buy beer and cigarettes, but compassionate state lawmakers decided it wasn’t fair to stop TAXPAYER money from being used to subsidize non-essential bad habits.
“You would think a simple common sense reform like trying to make sure taxpayer money is not used for the purchase of alcohol and tobacco would find bi-partisan support,” said GOP State Senator Bob Dutton.
No such luck in California. Dutton, SB417’s sponsor saw his legislation to save taxpayer money fail on a straight party-line vote.
California’s EBT/ATM card caught national attention last year when the Los Angeles Times uncovered several documents proving the welfare cards were being used for vacations to Hawaii, Las Vegas and strip clubs. Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger quickly quashed the vacation perks, but failed to stop the alcohol or cigarette buying ability.
“These funds are designed help the neediest in California meet their basic requirements of providing food, clothing and shelter,” Senator Dutton quipped. “I doubt there’s not a taxpayer in this state who believes purchasing alcohol or tobacco with welfare money constitutes a basic need and should be allowed.”
Senator Dutton also explained that more than half of welfare beneficiaries are parents who are no longer eligible for state aid, but still receive cash assistance on behalf of their anchor baby children.
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Comments 5
I thought there was something not quite right about this piece and researched some sites in CA. Even though the paper form of food stamps has been replaced by the EBT/ATM card, the same criteria for items allowed is still the same according to the sites I viewed.
If this is indeed happening, perhaps the merchants are not aware of the criteria of allowed items and how the items are to be separated at the check stand.
According to the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services:
http://dpss.co.riverside.ca.us/FoodStamps.aspx
Q: What can I buy with Food Stamps?
Food Stamp benefits cannot be used to buy:
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
Any non-food item such as:
pet food
diapers
soaps, paper products
household supplies such as cleaners
vitamins and medicines
food that will be eaten in the store
hot foods
Also: Referral info from
http://www.ebtproject.ca.gov/faq.aspx
Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco;
Any nonfood items, such as:
— pet foods;
— soaps, paper products; and
— household supplies.
Vitamins and medicines.
Food that will be eaten in the store.
Here’s Dutton’s take…
2/18/2011
Dutton bill calls to end ‘Blatant Abuse of Taxpayer Dollars’
Senate Republican Leader’s SB 417 prohibits purchase of alcohol/tobacco with EBT cards
SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) introduced Senate Bill 417 that would prohibit welfare recipients from using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to purchase alcohol or tobacco products.
“This is a blatant abuse of taxpayer dollars,” Senator Dutton said. “Those who receive cash assistance should use that money to pay for the necessities of life. Paying rent, utilities and buying clothing for their children are examples of what taxpayer dollars should go towards, not alcohol and tobacco. While it may not be against the law to use the cash portion of the EBT card to purchase alcohol and tobacco, it certainly violates the spirit of a program designed to help the state’s neediest families.”
Those who receive food stamps and CalWORKS benefits receive both on the EBT cards. While recipients cannot purchase alcohol or tobacco with the food stamp portion of their benefits, they may use the EBT card to purchase alcohol and tobacco with the card if there is cash left on the CalWORKS portion of the card.
The abuse of EBT cards received national attention last year when the Los Angeles Times reported on the withdrawal of millions of dollars from the cards at gaming casinos, strip clubs, cruise ships, and in Las Vegas. The previous governor issued an Executive Order to stop the use of EBT cards at these locations, but did nothing to stop the purchase of alcohol or tobacco.
“Prohibiting the purchase of alcohol and tobacco is a necessary step towards providing greater assurances that these benefits are being used for their intended purpose,” Senator Dutton concluded.
http://cssrc.us/web/31/news.aspx?id=10340&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
My understanding is that whether someone uses an CA EBT/ATM card or food stamps, the merchant is responsible for making sure that non-allowable items cannot be paid for with the EBT/ATM card or food stamp paper. The person holding the CA EBT/ATM card must pay for the non-allowable items with cash…NOT the card. At least this is my understanding of how the system is supposed to work.
Merchants need to be doing a better job of having their checkers be aware of non-allowable items when someone presents their CA EBT/ATM card, and make sure the individual pays for things such as alcoholic beverages and cigarettes with cash.
Per Dutton (above) on his bill, again…
“Those who receive food stamps and CalWORKS benefits receive both on the EBT cards. While recipients cannot purchase alcohol or tobacco with the food stamp portion of their benefits, they may use the EBT card to purchase alcohol and tobacco with the card if there is cash left on the CalWORKS portion of the card.”
Someone seems to be having a hard time understanding that despite what they believe should be the case, it is not. Sen, Dutton’s bill would have fixed the problem.