BOSTON — Taking aim at what they call an abuse of the taxpayers’ money, a growing number of states are blocking welfare recipients from spending their benefits on booze, cigarettes, lottery tickets, casino gambling, tattoos and strippers.
“If you’re not abusing the program, then you should really have no problem with these reforms,” said state Rep. Shaunna O’Connell, a Republican pushing for restrictions in Massachusetts.
While the crackdown has strong populist appeal in Democratic and GOP states alike in this era of tight budgets and tea party demands for fiscal discipline, advocates for the poor argue that the restrictions are based on stereotypes about people on welfare, and they say the notion of any widespread abuse is a myth. Most people on public assistance, they contend, are single mothers struggling just to get by.
The movement has been spurred in part by Congress. Under legislation signed by President Barack Obama in February to extend a payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits, welfare recipients are barred from using their cash assistance in strip clubs, casinos and liquor stores. States must change their own laws to conform by 2014.
States from Arizona to Maine have been going even further on their own, adopting or considering legislation to block the use of benefits to buy other items deemed frivolous. Among them: porn, cruises and psychic readings.
In the past 12 years, at least 10 states passed laws restricting welfare purchases, three of them this year, while at least 14 others are proposing similar legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Around 4.4 million people received about $30 billion in cash assistance in fiscal year 2011 through the federal-state welfare program known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. States set their own eligibility requirements. (An estimated 44.7 million people received food stamps, and that program has long barred people from using their benefits to buy anything other than certain foods.)
Welfare recipients are issued their benefits via Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards, which can be used like debit cards to buy things or to withdraw cash from ATMs. Some states have barred the use of the cards to buy certain prohibited products; others have banned cash purchases of such items, too.
But cash transactions are all but impossible to police. To make it more difficult for welfare recipients to simply withdraw cash and spend it on banned items, states such as California and Washington have reprogrammed ATMs inside certain businesses to automatically reject welfare benefit cards.
Under many of the new laws, welfare recipients and merchants alike can face fines and the loss of their benefits or their business licenses. Some of the states that have joined the trend say they have no figures yet on violations.
Supporters of the stricter laws have seized on media investigations that have uncovered potential abuses.
California, for example, enacted laws to prohibit ATM withdrawals at liquor stores, strip clubs and gambling establishments following a 2010 investigation by the Los Angeles Times that found that $1.8 million in welfare benefits had been taken out of cash machines at California casinos over an eight-month period.
But Elizabeth Lower-Basch, a policy analyst for the Center for Law and Social Policy, a Washington-based nonprofit organization, said the regulations reflect “people’s preconceived notions and stereotypes of low-income people.” She said poor people have hardly any money left over for things like alcohol or tattoos after they pay for necessities.
New York lawmakers have proposed barring spending on alcohol, strip clubs, cruise ships and psychics. “It’s a slap in the face to people who are on public assistance and are trying to get off, when others abuse the system,” said state Sen. Thomas Libous, a Republican.
Ann Valdez of Brooklyn’s Coney Island section said it’s “crazy” for the government to be dictating where people spend their assistance instead of creating living-wage jobs. She said she struggles just to cover toiletries, clothing and other expenses for herself and her 13-year-old son on the $120 she receives every two weeks.
“I don’t know one person who uses their EBT money to buy liquor or anything like that,” Valdez said.
Washington state lawmakers have prohibited purchases of tattoos, body piercings, alcohol and tobacco. Bars, bail bond agencies, gambling establishments and strip clubs are also now required to deactivate the ability of their ATMs to accept EBT cards. Colorado and Indiana have banned alcohol, guns or gambling.
Lawmakers in New Hampshire are calling for tighter restrictions after Jackie Whiton, a Peterborough store clerk, was fired in May for turning away a customer who tried to legally buy cigarettes with a benefits card. “I could not sit back and watch it happen,” she said.
Christopher Borges, a New Hampshire resident, defended his and other welfare recipients’ ability to buy cigarettes in a July 7 editorial submitted to the Concord Monitor newspaper.
“Why do people who are sick or unemployed need to justify their spending habits, simply because they are in receipt of support from their community (transferred via the government in the form of cash)?” he wrote. He did not respond to requests for comment.
In Massachusetts, lawmakers are considering banning card purchases of tattoos, pornography and guns. The proposal would also prohibit spending at nail salons, jewelry stores and casinos. Welfare recipients in the state are already barred from using their cards to buy lottery tickets, tobacco and alcohol. Pennsylvania legislators are calling for sweeping restrictions as well.
Philadelphia resident Lisa Crawford, who receives $375 a month in benefits for herself and her 11-year-old son, said using public assistance at strip clubs and liquor stores is “abusive.” But otherwise, she said, “I think you should be accountable for your living situation and should be able to buy what you want as long as your main bills are taken care of.”
Crawford, who has been going on job interviews, said nail or hair salons shouldn’t be put off limits, in part because job-seekers must look presentable: “Luxuries can also help you in the workforce.”
_____
Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Juliet Williams in Sacramento, Calif., Holly Ramer in Concord, N.H., Michael Virtanen in Albany, N.Y., and Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pa.
Racists. Any Democrat will tell you that there is no such thing as welfare abuse/fraud. (or voter fraud or Medicare fraud or illegal immigration or…….)
Tag tells it like it is! And the Koch Brothers, Le Peguin, Bush and Dick Cheney, and the Gestapo are behind this atrocity!!
You forgot the Tea Party and the vast right wing conspiracy.
How dare you use he word “Gestapo’ in a joke its forbidden.
Yes, even if it’s true.
‘Racists’? English your second language? Or are you just dumb?
I’m a Democrat and I’ll tell you there is a lot of waste in the system. At the present time the Republican/MHPC/ALEC/Tea Party is in control in Maine. Have they managed to wave a magic wand to end the abuse???? I’m giving them the same amount of time that the Republians gave Obama to cure the recession that Bush left us in.
So when the hordes voted for Obama (which I will never understand), you were the “smart” one who didn’t buy into this hope and change garbage? You “knew” he would not be able to do what he said he was going to because of that evil GW Bush (who I would take back as president in a heartbeat over the farce that currently occupies that White House)?? So basically you are saying that whoever was elected was going to get a free pass. Obama is not responsible for anything (not that he had the skills, background or experience to be remotely qualified to be president but hey, who cares about that). The debt has skyrocketed under him. Unemployment and the economy is terrible
How many tax cheats has he put in his cabinet again, and he has the NERVE to question Romney…….THAT is priceless.You keep on thinking he is the great savior. The rest of us know better (well, those of us who work for a living and don’t expect the government to just tax the successful into oblivion so “free” stuff can be handed out like candy). Obama is an embarrassment to the position. He hates successful people and wants them punished. You build a business from the ground up, and he has the nerve to say “you didn’t build that?”
Also, there has been a lot more buzz in the past 18 months about welfare fraud under LePage than I EVER saw reported when the left was in power. Of course, there was ‘no problem” then, yeah and there is no voter fraud either.
Obama held 100 fundraisers in six months. “His priority is
not creating jobs for you,” …”His priority is trying to keep his own
job.
You are exactly right. He demonizes the rich, loathes those who have made something of themselves and just keeps going back to his core believers (not sure what it is they are believing in him for as he has done nothing for them, but they will blindly vote for him again…..I have never seen such blind devotion to somebody who was so unworthy of it.
I had a pretty damm good life under the Bush years except for the last 2 yrs. Check it out for yourselves. We had the highest employment, I was making 5% on my small savings which is now way less than 1%. The last 2 yrs., the Congress pushed for people getting into homes whether they could afford them or not! Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae – Government Banks!! Our Government is taking over our whole lives! Can’t you see this?
From the “it is about damned time” file
“I don’t know one person who uses their EBT money to buy liquor or anything like that,” Valdez said.
Oh really? I used to be a cashier at a grocery store. On a daily basis I had people buying “food” with their EBT cards, yet are able to pull out $40 or $50 for booze and cigarettes.
well they need the booze to deal with their crappy lives……you would need it too….lol
What’s crappy about their lives? Are they having to get up at o-dark-thirty 5 (or more) days a week, and working 40-50 or more hours to bring home MAYBE enough money to pay the mounting bills each month, while having next to nothing left over for car repairs, clothing, unexpected expenditures (often having nothing leftover and going in the red…), etc.?
I know you were just being funny! I’m just venting a little!
I second your statement, I worked at a small convience store, but instead of pulling out the $40 or $50 in CASH they used the cash benefit on the EBT cards to buy the booze and cigarettes. If they want some names I could definately let them know where to go to find these people. Makes me so mad that working people are punished, yet if I were to sit home and pop out kid after kid, NOT that I don’t love my children, but they were all born in a marriage with a two family income, but if the tables were to be turned, I could live like a KING
You must be making that up because as we all know that sort of thing just can’t happen, just ask the dems. All welfare recipients are simply the working poor working 3 jobs to cover the bills. It is not people who refuse to work, breed for a living and drink coffee brandy, smoke cigarettes and get tattoos all the time. Nope, that just doesn’t happen. All of those people you see walking around all day or sitting at home on the computer 365 days a year are all applying for jobs or taking online courses in order to better themselves.
Those working poor are poor because they do not qualify for welfare……. Hence the use of the word poor.
That’s racist!
Yeah I can’t agree with that quote either. While I support Welfare for those who absolutely need it, there are too many fat rednecks holding up the lines at convenience stores getting their cigarettes and candy bars. Spend it on some Condoms and save the world some trouble.
They will never spend it on birth control. Having kids IS the money maker.
Let’s see, it’s a recession, no one will hire you and the only skill seemed recognized by anyone is being a mother……. Who wouldn’t? How about becoming a surrogate??
To me, there is a big difference between a “redneck” and a bum, but I get your point.
There should be no cash portion on the EBT card. All purchases should need to be accounted for. When they go in for a review of their benefits they should have to produce receipts for what they have bought with their funds.
I have said this for years and years. Don’t give these people CASH. They just blow it on nonsense. Gov’t assistance should only be for necessities.
the only problem with that is that some mom and pop places in maine either have a minimum purchase allowance with debit or don’t take it all. so then you would be on here complaining that all the small business’s are going under. This abuse is not as widespread as some liars…sorry i mean politicians……would have you believe. And those that do abuse will find a way around this…they always do. And no i do not get FS or EBT bennifits
That’s strange. If it’s not so wide spread then why are all the states cracking down on abuse, and who withdrew $1.8 million on welfare cards from California casinos in only an 8 month period?
All country stores have cigarettes, many are agency liquor stores, and almost all have ATM machines. All you have to do is pay attention a little bit and you will see welfare abuse on a daily basis. Every time more welfare abuse is uncovered on the news, the liberal comment is “oh, well this is just an isolated incident”. That’s a lot of abuse to be considered “isolated” anymore.
Welfare cards should not be able to be used for cash.
……
While I agree with the restrictions when you say ”
People need to feel superior in so many ways” you are absolutely correct. It’s the American way. There’s a serious entitlement complex going on.
Wow. I wish I lived in your world. I worked at a mom & pop store for YEARS and saw the abuse almost daily. I’ve seen it done frequently by neighbors and shaken my head at it (one has a beautiful, colorful array of tattoos – and yet she’s getting all KINDS of assistance).
The abuse is there – more than what people realize.
but the abuse can’t be there, just ask the libs: Their 2 favorite responses:
“That is anecdotal,” or “well, there is so little abuse it would cost more to investigate it than it does to (and this is the lib motto) ‘just keep paying'”
I love their flavor of denial. Can I have some please?
“The abuse is there – more than what people realize. ”
TRUE
Do you remember reading in the Paper last year how SAPPI got new High Efficienency Motors for its Plant from Maine Efficiency?
Hard to Notice in the basement and fences all around the Plant!
Abuse of benefits does happen, and has been happening since long before the EBT card made it’s appearance. I have not only witnessed people on assistance buying beer, smokes, and scratch tickets with their EBT cards, I know of quite a few people who used to sell their food stamps for bingo money (this still happens by the way) for 50 cents on the dollar.
I am aware that not everybody who gets assistance abuses it, but to think that abuse is not widespread sounds like you are out of touch with reality.
well said, snake.
If it is not widespread then it should not bother anyone because they don’t spend taxpayer money on non-essentials anyway. Your point is moot.
that’s what I was thinking!
I feel the same way as you do about our Congressmen.
I agree, “the regulations reflect “people’s preconceived notions and stereotypes of low-income people.” She said poor people have hardly any money left over for things like alcohol or tattoos after they pay for necessities.” They shouldn’t have any money left over…period.
What about the extra money that is left from not having to feed their kids during the school year? They are getting enough to feed their kids 21 meals a week. The tax payers are getting the bill to feed them 10 to 15 more meals in school. Some communities are putting together back packs of food for the kids to take home on the weekends and I believe Bangor wants to supply them meals over the summer months.
Is there anything that some of these welfare recipients are capable of doing for their children???
Yeah, having more of them…most of us who work for a living know we can’t just have kids we can’t afford over and over again. It’s a lifestyle. Not knocking single moms or dads who through hard times are down and need a hand up. Most on welfare aren’t those people working hard to get off. It’s truly a cycle.
You are right. I saw a couple who were given a hand up, become very comfortable in their new surroundings so much that there is no incentive to work!
Actually, statistically, large families are NOT on welfare. Those who receive welfare are those with one child (that is the majority). This statement is used by many but it is false. Most large families take care of themselves WITHOUT benefits.
Yep…some people need a hand up…but we need to stop the incessant hand-outs!
I see abuses every day – some very disgusting!!!
And they say it’s not a big problem?
The system is taking over every faucet of our lives – unfortunately!
Let the parents that already get food stamps, feed their own children.
From my experience with people on food stamps, they do not receive enough to cover an entire year. Summer is especially difficult for families when they are not receiving food at school. The summers are not a vacation for the parents or children, as they don’t get to go on vacation, don’t get to go see movies or even buy lots of food. They scrap by during the summer.
You want to see a movie, go on vacation? Get a job. I’ve worked since I was 10 for my spending money. Mowing grass, shoveling snow, delivering newspapers, collecting returnables, sweeping floors, washing dishes, etc. anything for a few bucks. If I didn’t have the money to see a movie or go on a vacation there was nobody to blame but myself.
You are not entitled at birth to vacation or movies. That is a pleasure you earn on your own. Society is not responsible for our entertainment.
If you run into a rough stretch and need to be on welfare, it is societies responsibility to see that you have shelter and food. I believe that with all my heart.
I don’t think it is societies responsibility to supply you with tattoos, booze, cable TV, internet, etc. etc.
I agree! I work, my husband works and we are on a budget. We feed our children well, but haven’t been on vacation for years. All money decisions are weighed and considered-$25 to see a movie, or for fresh fruit and vegetables? The food always wins out. Don’t get me wrong, we would LOVE to go on vacation, but life is about choices and parenthood is about responsibility.
That is child abuse now. We have labor laws against child working and ingraining the working attitude and lifestyle at a young age.
…..
I have no problem feeding kids.
If kids come to our house we feed them if they are hungry and their parents allow it.
My parents had no problem feeding us kids. In fact they took pride in feeding us and felt it was their responsibility.
I have no problem with people who are on welfare for whatever reason getting food stamps to feed their children.
What I do have a problem with is people who are on welfare and are being paid to feed THEIR children but seem to have an inability to even make breakfast and pack a lunch for THEIR children.
Can you justify why it is the tax payers responsibility to pay beyond what it takes to feed a child 21 meals a week?
Can you justify the parents of a child, who happen to be on welfare and collecting foodstamps (supposedly not working) find the responsibility to feed THEIR children?
Can you find it in yourself to answer what we are teaching these children? That it won’t be their responsibility to feed THEIR children when they have them???
….
—-
How many generations will need to go by before nobody takes responsibility for the rearing of children? These kids are being shown that parents aren’t responsible for their wellfare. The schools are not allowed to instill any disciplin.
Can you forsee a time and place where people will start caring for their children?
I work full time and still don’t have any money left over, I agree with you 100%
If they are working forty hr’s a week they shouldn’t NEED Government Money!
Minimum wage should be a standard above the need for welfare, otherwise the welfare is really just a welfare for the employer!
Yes, the problem isn’t welfare. It’s the minimum wage that is barely enough to keep people afloat.
Minimum wage is the problem, but not how you think it is.
How do *you* think it’s a problem? I’m curious.
??
What do you think the minimum wage should be and exactly how much do you think 40 hours a week at that rate should buy?
Most federal elected or appointed political leaders make over $174000 a year. Are they worth it?
Well I figured basic math would answer that question. How about we think about how there might be a problem when a 2-income household, only making minimum wage at both 40-hr positions, is just pulling in a mere $2400/month BEFORE taxes and insurance (if it’s even offered). Add a average rent/mortgage of approx. $1000/mo for a 2-3 bedroom apt/home in Maine, groceries, utilities (even excluding cell phones and cable), gas, a decent car (or two) to be sure you can get to work (this is Maine, after all, and we don’t have the conveniences of rail or bus travel everywhere), clothes, toiletries, etc. Maybe throw a child or two into the mix and add extra of the above expenses for them as well as school supplies, school activities, and the like. I don’t think it’s hard to see how this is an issue. Minimum wage should not leave anyone living paycheck to paycheck with no dime to spare or having to rob Peter to pay Paul because it doesn’t cover the basic necessities. And please don’t tell me that these folks should go back to school and continue their education so they can get better paying jobs. You and I both know that there are only so many of these higher paying jobs to go around so SOMEONE has to do the entry-level positions that currently aren’t paying crap for wages.
Are you willing to pay more for everything so that employers can pay employees more because that has always been the bottom line for business people. You can only pay employees what customers are willing to pay you for goods and services. If you need more than minimum wage, you need to learn a trade and make yourself valuable to potential employers. No one is owed a living.
This little piece of conservative dogma has been debunked over and over again (raising minimum wage is detrimental to business).
BTW, in case you haven’t noticed jobs, skilled or otherwise are in very short supply, even more so in Maine. I know many people who are skilled workers, have college degrees, etc., who are now doing part time minimum wage work. Wake up.
As for placing restrictions on the EBT cards it is nothing more than a knee jerk reaction. Even if there is NO cash allowed with the card all anyone has to do is go to the store and purchase allowed items and then sell or trade them for cash or goods. People who want to scam the system are going to scam the system. The majority of people though who need assistance and depend on their EBT cards will still be destitute at the end of the month. Law makers should be working to ferret out fraud and abuse instead of trying to punish the truly needy.
Also, I can’t understand those of you who would deny a family the right to take a few dollars out of their EBT funds, (as in NO cash benefit) to allow a child to have some enjoyment, like going to the circus or a saturday matinee. Is it a fiscally wise decision for the parents to do so? Perhaps not, but life, especially the lives of children isn’t and should never become all about money. Are you all so hardhearted that you can’t see the logical flow of your arguments? You would be denying children the right to have a childhood because you think you know better than their parents. And in general you would be denying citizens their basic rights.
As an aside to this conversation I would like to ask all of you what you did with that nice little check everyone got from the government a few years back. Hmmm? Were you good little boys and girls and spent it all on food and necessities or did you splurge a little? Same thing as those EBT cards friends. The government gave you money; taxpayer money. How would you have felt if they had sent it in the form of an EBT card and told you how to spend it under penalty of law?
I really do grieve that my country has become home to so many Simon Legrees. Mean people suck.
True!
“No one” includes businesmen!
You are very anti business and I wonder where you think people will work if there is no business.
No I’am not! I am PRO buisness, just not the kind that thinks that they are special entities, or the type that
buys politicians for favors and drives wages into the cellar useing an extraordinary amount of accumulated whealth as power.
We need a Teddy Roosevelt to emerge and break up these corporate entities that have become more powerfull than the United States!
I buy from and support small buisness’s every day of the week!
A man can work from his garage In any number of service trades, he doesn’t need a corporate charter, a dozen politicians and Radio Talk show propaganda artist to convince the populace that his neighbor is the enemy!
Amen. Honestly, does anyone really believe that a minimum wage should be high enough so a person can rent an apartment (by themselves), make a car payment, insurance, cable, internet, cell phone?
Wow, the starting pay for teachers is around $30K (just using teachers as an example), and that does not make for living like a fat cat (and teachers have to have a 4 year degree so add in some college loans to pay).
In my time on this planet, I NEVER looked at the minimum wage as some magical number that we, as a society, must make high enough for an adult to sustain themselves completely. If people want/need to make more money, as you said, learn a trade or go back to school for something else. I don’t think I need a large pizza at Domino’s to run $28 so we can raise the min rage to $14 an hour.
Read my post above in response to tJones4. Maybe you’ll see how rediculous this sounds.
So it’s all about you being able to get cheap pizza? How shortsighted, pennywise and pound-foolish you people are. Higher minimum wages mean more people have more money to inject into the economy.
Minimum wage in 1965 was a lot higher in purchase power than what it is today. Today you need to be making over 10.50 per hr. to be even with the minimum in 1965.
Minimum wage isn’t enough to live on, thats why you either work hard to get ahead in the company, or you work two or three jobs. Seems pretty simple to me.
No— thats why you choose a good politician that makes it clear to Industry that you pay a fair wage or you pay it in Taxes for those that you are exploiting!
It’s pretty simple! If you don’t like paying Taxes for Welfare Pay a fair wage and or hire the disabled in some form.
“You don’t get Taxed until you make A Profit!”and the fewer on welfare the less the Tax!
Thats the BEST TAX BREAK Going!
Companies should pay a fair wage….for the SKILL required to do the job. Businesses don’t go into this saying “well, this guy needs to be able to pay a mortgage, car payment, taxes, insurance, etc so we better pay this 19 year old $50K a year even though the kid has no skills or training. That is not how it works.
The more people who pay taxes, the better off we are. Of course when we make it so easy to NOT work, that is a huge part of the problem.
No, it’s more like I need someone to fill the position. This other company is offering 50k to hire people, and they never seem to have a hard time finding talent. This other company pays 30k, and has trouble filling or keeping a position filled. I guess should offer closer to 50k.
I know a company that increased it’s wages for a skilled position because yes, Wal-Mart was offering a higher salary for a no skill job, and they lost skilled workers to Wal-Mart.
But, now we are in a recession with many people looking for work, and many skilled to where a business can say, hey, I only have to pay 30k and get plenty of people looking to take that job, and keep it. It sure beats being paid nothing.
It is now an employers market, not an employees market.
ARE YOU SERIOUS??? So because there are only so many high-paying, professional jobs to go around (not everyone can be a successful business person, doctor, lawyer, business owner, etc.) those folks ‘unfortunate’ enough to be stuck with minimum-wage jobs should have to bust their butts at several jobs and never see their families because ‘well, if the government only wants to make min wage $7.50/hr, you better earn your keep!”? That’s the most asinine thing I’ve heard in a long time!
sure, if you just leave your 5 year old home to take care of your 2 year old.
Min wage does not give enough to support a family! It never has.
I don’t believe it ever will (and I don’t think it should). That hourly rate would be impossible to support by businesses.
Well how about Wal-Mart? They’ve made it impossible to open an type of retail business. I’m sure they could afford to spread the wealth to their workers.
EXACTLY!! And they exploit their workers like no-one’s business!
It is these days.
I don’t believe that the genuinely poor people have anything at all “left over” after paying for necessities. The amount of money these people receive isn’t nearly enough to cover the cost of basic necessities (food, clothing, shelter) based upon our current cost of living. It would seem that this would make it completely obvious that the abusers of the system cannot be the genuinely poor, but instead the abusers can only be people who already have enough money to live on but who in some way feel unrealistically jealous that poor people are getting assistance and/or are really people with sufficient income or available cash but who, out of greed, feel entitled to “get some for themselves”. It is most likely these average income citizens and/or well off abusers who are using the money – which to them actually IS “extra cash” they get from the state – to buy cigarettes, tattoos, etc… The genuinely poor can’t afford to do this and they should not be blamed for what better off and greedy people do.
Well, you know money from illegal activity isn’t going to be claimed. Nor is the money the live in boyfriend (who isn’t supposed to be there). Mainecare SHOULD cost money. Oh, you are 19 and had a baby, well sit home, get free healthcare and raise your kid. There are many people in this country who do not have the choice to have one of the parents stay at home with the child yet that benefit is given to 18 year old girls every day…….it is a crazy upside down country we live in.
I wish the “working poor” was who I see out there, but that just isn’t the case. It seems to me the majority of the benefits go to those who sit at home, have kids, don’t work, will NOT work and more so, don’t have to work. I am not lumping in elderly, disabled in that group. I work in schools and when you see parents who are available all day (well, after 10am…you know, they can’t meet before that) and have been available for years….there is a problem with the system.
What are you talking about? You said ”
Oh, you are 19 and had a baby, well sit home, get free healthcare and raise your kid.”
First of all…I am not 19 years old. I am 57 years old and have worked my entire life supporting my family. I have two children but they are long grown with children of their own. I’m not on public assistance and neither are either of my children or grand children. My son-in-law is in Afghanistan defending your right to accuse me of sitting home getting free healthcare. My healthcare is as free as Tricare… that’s right, I have military healthcare too.
I worked from the time I was 17 years old in 1972 until I retired at 55 years old. I worked in public education in the Special Education Department for over a decade. I worked in an affluent area where most families had one stay-at-home parent and no one was on any kind of public assistance. You can’t assume that simply because a parent is home after 10 am that they are cheating the system or even that they aren’t working. They could work nights or be working from home. This one-size-fits-all mentality is part of the problem.
Now… to reiterate what I just said. The genuinely poor (which includes working poor) are not to blame for the lies others tell to cheat the system. Those who cheat the system are people with resources and abilities who lie to get a handout and that includes 18 year old teen parents who certainly are able to work.
I am not saying YOU are 19 years old. My point was to yours about the truly poor need the money, and it is the abusers who seem to have the benefits as “extras.” I was agreeing with you by saying that there are ways some people on the system can make extra money (under the table, dealing drugs, having a live in in boyfriend they are not supposed to have, etc.).
The parents I know who could not meet until “after 10 am” I KNOW did not work. I was not making any assumption on that part. We would just shake our heads when the person who does NOT work cannot get to a school (or you better not call them) before 10am. I have seen it happen countless times.
I think you and I really are on the same page. I am for helping the working poor get a leg up. I am not for allowing generational welfare (have seen that too many times to count too).
The money is gone, and we(the country or the state of Maine) cannot sustain all of the freebies that people get. Something desperately has to change. If this article is indicative of a small start then we take it.
And thank you for your service.
Thanks for explaining what you meant. I think we are on the same page. Financial and medical assistance is intended for those who really and truly need it… not for greedy, selfish abusers.
Well this problem is clearly with the government, once again, not making it easy for folks to make it through tough times. I truly believe that folks on welfare should have to pay back to the community, be it working at a soup kitchen, helping to clean trash off the sides of the road or clean up parks/playgrounds, deliver meals to elders, use any skills such as carpentry or electrical to help those in need, etc. You don’t volunteer, you don’t get your monthly check. Nothing should be free. And when someone does get a job and gets state benefits pulled, well they’re no better off than before they were on welfare. It’s not an easy fix, by any means, but there are things that can be done on both sides.
Same as Farm Subsidies!
Bubba don’t need a new Hi-Rise Manifold for his Monster Truck!
Some places people need to pay bills don’t take the card. You need to use cash or check.
ABSOLUTELY AGREE
Whoa!
We should Micro Manage every Cash Transaction that some Poor Wefare Fella Spends of Tax payer Dollars Yet Elect the Man who Hides Millions of Dollars overseaas in the Cayman Islands to avoid paying Taxes President?
This is the thinking that is Destroying America!
Lets give the Rich a free ticket for being Rich! And Demonize the Poor so that no one will notice!
It’s the Free Market Republican Way!
The difference is Mitt Romney EARNED it himself. He can do whatever he wants with the money HE earned. I don’t want people on government assistance (our money) spending it on stuff they don’t need. If they want cancer sticks, porn, and booze then they should get off their butts and get a job. Your way of thinking is what is destroying this country.
He didn’t “EARN” the Part that was Tax Evasion!
He STOLE that!
And the Law Makers that Made it “legal” where his accomplises!
So which is it…..tax evasion (which would be illegal) or is it legal (if lawmakers make something legal, that makes it, um, I dunno, legal?)
The attitude that the government has more of a right to somebody’s money than the person who EARNED it does is scary.
How much would be enough for Romney or any other wealthy person in this country to pay? $1 mil, 2 mil, 100 million? How much is enough for you?
So which is it…..tax evasion (which would be illegal) or is it legal (if lawmakers make something legal, that makes it, um, I dunno, legal?)
Legal?
Irrelevant when the President is the one who signs the laws into effect!
The Job Description requires ” Morals” —-Not Legals! Otherwise you come out with more Immoral Laws !
Taking money from one person who has the money to give to another (you know, “wealth redistribution”) is moral? Those people already pay most of the taxes in this country, but Obama’s take is “it just isn’t enough, you have to pay more.” I see NOTHING moral in his ideology.
$77,000 deduction for his dancing horse. I should be able to claim my cat as a dependent!
Romney hasn’t earned a damn thing!! He was born a millionaire. While he did make money through his vulture capital company, according to his own statements he didn’t do anything; he was just a name on the letterhead.
Earned?
$100,000 dollars a year for doing Nothing while commendering 1.3 Billion of taxpayers Money to Bail Out his Corrupt friends at the 2002 Olympics!
He had to retroactively remove his home deduction in Utah to Qualify for Residency in Massachusetts to qualify him for a candidate . He then had to retroactively retire to hide his involvement that he was paid the $100,000 for, to run for President!
This guy has done more Time Travel than Orsen Wells!
Yeah, good point. If we are to respect each others lives, liberties and pursuit of happiness, and demonize the poor man, while electing those that hide millions overseas and help take jobs away from fellow citizens so it is harder not to be the poor man. Where is the mutual pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and sacred honor in that?
As someone else would say, why give the person born with a silver spoon that freedom, but not someone born to a poor family in the United States of America?
Do you believe taxpayer money should go to paying for cigarettes/beer/tattoos? As for Romney, do you believe he is breaking any law? If he (honestly, or anyone) is using the US tax code to the best of their ability, I would not blame them. IF he is doing something illegal, that is a different story of course, and he or anyone else should be prosecuted for tax evasion. Also, the way I see it is Romney pays taxes and probably more than anybody on bdn’s comment section. “Let’s give the rich a free ticket for being rich?” You are drinking the Obama kool aid. The “RICH” pay most of the taxes in this country. WIthout them(you know, those evil rich people), Mainecare/food stamps/tanf/subsidized housing/free obama minutes on the cell phone would all cease to exist.
The Free market built this country. Socialism and this hatred of successful people (with Obama leading the chant) is what is on its way to destroying it.
So when the welfare queen has a loophole to get a pack of cigarettes for free congress should drop everything and close it ASAP , but when we have a loophole allowing offshoreing of jobs and evading millions of dollars of Taxes , Offshoreing 50,000 Manufacturing Plants in a Ten Year window effectively destroying the country by eliminating jobs and driving the defecit out of sight from the reduced Tax Revenue, we should allow that to linger on and on and on and praise it for being ( Legal) good Free Market policy and promote it!
Insanity!
If Socialism is hatred of Successful people, then Capitalism is the Hatred of Poor people!
But there are so many poor people throughout history who, through capitalism, have made fortunes. I wonder what socialism has done for anybody?
I didn’t know congress was “dropping everything” to deal with the “welfare queens,” but you can over dramatize it to make it seem like they are being picked on if they can’t get their cigarettes and tattoos with OUR tax money. I think that should be looked into. I also believe that corporate “welfare” should be looked into as well. I believe manufacturing jobs should come back to the US (having worked in the business world when NAFTA went through, I knew it would be a disaster then).
Corporate welfare cuts across party lines. I believe the government should be out of the job of subsidizing companies, industries, farming, etc. Now, that said, I would also put in some protective tariffs to help US companies compete (and bring manufacturing jobs back to the US) and the “global economy” can be damned.
People have gotten special deals, regardless of their political affiliations (how about those green power companies with Obama govt guaranteed loans, etc).
However, concern over welfare abuse/fraud/outrageous benefits seems to be something only the conservatives care about….kind of like illegal immigration and voter fraud. The libs have no issues with that (of course they would have to recognize it as a problem first).
Your attitude seems to be: If somebody says “yes, it is crazy for people on public assistance to be able to use that benefit for cigarettes and tattoos,” you dismiss it if there are other things in the country you don’t agree with. I, for one, would give corporations (yes, they are made of people, regardless of what “the savior” might think” breaks before I would give cigarettes and tattoos to people on public assistance. Corporations provide jobs and pay taxes.
You can blame the deficit on reduced tax revenue (that is the liberal stance…that revenue is the government’s, the people just get to hold it for a little while), while I view our deficit issues are more related to the government spending too much money. It is as simple as that. If I make X amount of money per year and it is not enough to pay my bills and I use my credit cards to “get by” instead of cutting spending, that is a recipe for disaster. I can’t keep racking up the credit card bill and then just sit back and say “well, what do you want me to do, I don’t make as much money as I want.”
“I wonder what socialism has done for anybody?”
It won the first and second world war!
Our Army , Navy, Airforce, are all by definition are Socialism!
And Yes ! Socialism is in the Constitution!
Army, Navy, and Post office and Postal Roads all owned and operated by the Government of the United States!
Boy now that is a stretch to say socialism won the wars. Hey, if it makes you feel better to believe, go ahead.
Yeah! Government!
Why is it that people want more big corrupt government, the same government that you are right now complaining about.
Don’t forget the hatred of poor people.
There is no way to hide money in the Cayman Islands. Wherever you came up with that lie is a bag of nonsense.
Then Why Did the Federal Government Offer “Amnesty” for those who did if they fessd up?
You were talking directly about Mitt Romney and he did not have to take the government up on their offer. And I was referring to the now, not what it was.
So you operate in a Romulan Time Warp along with Mitt!
Most Probably that ” Amnesty ” document is what Mitt is hideing!
and look at all the documents Obama is “hiding”
Yeah like his high school grades, like the are relevant!
First of all, Mitt Romney has not been elected. Secondly, by not allowing those on welfare to buy porn, lobster, or strippers is most certainly not “demonizing” them. And quite honestly, where on earth does the notion that the rich get a free ride come from? Please explain.
None of your points make any sense at all. I would like to assume that you are trolling, but unfortunately you probably are not.
{ And quite honestly, where on earth does the notion that the rich get a free ride come from? Please explain.}
By Mitt Romney’s own admission he recieved $100,000 per year to be listed as CEO and Executive Director with Bain Capital and ( as he says ) had absolutely NO involvement In Manageing Bain!
—–Free Ride—-!
Bravo.
They should not even get a card. They should go back to receiving government food like a lot of people use to get such as powdered milk cheese instant potatoes apple sauce. Instead of T-bone and prime rib steaks
in this day and age they would not know how to prepare it
EBT cards didn’t crash the economy!
Derivatives Cards did!
I was at Hannaford’s the other day and a girl maybe 19 or 20 was using a EBT card and buying food. Then she processed to get cash off her card in the sum of $650.00 dollars. This making me sick and they think they earned it. Then they get earn income credits. What wrong with this country.
it might have made YOU sick, but it probably made her landlord happy to get his rent.
I would think so. But I heard her say she had another $700. dollars on there for the for rest of the month in cash. They know how to play the system really will.
Banning the EBT card from certain establishments really does no good when the recipient can go to an ATM and take cash out.
I didn’t realize that you could use it to just get cash out of ATMs until this article…. it really should be limited to food and necessities. Why would the card need to be used for cash? Just curious…
I use the cash benefits (TANF) on my card to pay part of my rent. It doesn’t cover all of it, but it does about half. I can’t think of any other way to get that $ off, than to use the ATM. If they come up with one, I will gladly use it, but there isn’t one at this time.
Ok – that makes more sense to me now. I didn’t know that TANF was also on an EBT card – I just assumed those different subsidies came in different payment forms, for one reason or another.
TANF, Child Support, Child Care Payments, State Supplement (for SSI clients), Dirigo reimbursement of Insurance premiums are but a few other things that come on the EBT card. It is not just for Food Supplement.
Boy, when I went back to school, I took out loans and worked, silly me…I guess I should have just signed up for public assistance/maine care. Shame on me for not being so “recipient class” knowledgeable.
Students on TANF, still need to take out loans.
As for you shaming yourself, whatever, but one thing if for sure, if you have big loud opinions, they ought to be based on fact, not on whatever the wind kicks up.
I may recieve help, but I also am piling up TONS of student loans, and working. Not everyone who gets help just sits on their behinds and does nothing. There are some moments, when I wish I had the lack of morals to be able to justify doing that. Usually, it’s when I’m so sleep deprived, I can barely stand it. Those feeling last about 30 seconds, then I remember how proud my daughter will be, watching me walk across that stage, receiving my diploma. That thought makes those sleepless nights, hours of homework, and insane commute to school (1-1.5 hours each way) well worth it!
Keep rocking it, girl!
Jemileesmom, go to Hannaford, or Shaws, go up to their service desk, and take it out there. No ATM fees either. You are welcome.
Thanks. My bank’s ATM also doesn’t charge, if I only use it once a month. It’s good to know about other places thought that won’t charge.
I have been behind quite a few people who paid for groceries with food stamps. Then pull out the cash for cigarettes and booze. Stood behind one young lady, she had the wic coupons buying milk…then paid cash for the coffee brandy….now I wonder what she was mixing with the coffee brandy?
Bath salts.
Coffee brandy is pretty good when mixed with breast milk – definitely needs ice cubes, though.
Seriously though, aren’t you worried someone will pick your pocket while you are so distracted checking out everyone’s food stamps, coupons, cash, purchases, etc? Your trips to the supermarket must be exhausting!
Your defense of welfare abuse is noted. Again.
Welfare for defense is a “noted” Abuse!
LOL
I would rather my money go toward defense than Allens, cigs and tattoos
Have you seen all the TATS on Sailors?
Just go to a bar, offer up a sailor a free cigarette to show it off!
LOL
You mean sailors who WORK for a living (minor distinction I believe is worth noting).
Sailors are part of an American Socialism System, they are owned and controlled by the Government during their Tenure.
They are given rank, duty, and pay.
So are welfare recipeants, Rank–Unemployed, Duty—Look for work—-Pay–The Going rate!–( Maybe an extension )!
LOL
That is disgusting patsy12, if a mother will express breast milk to mix with coffee brandy what else will she do that is not in the best interest of her children. And if any one in a supermarket touches me while I am in line to try and pick my pocket they better hope I have made enough working at my full time job to afford my medications or they may have more than they bargained for.
He never said the kids would be the ones drinking it!
NO JUST DEPRESSING
Actually, it is not that I am distracted….I usually only have a few things that I can afford and pay for with money that I worked and earned. I am waiting for them to separate the items that ARE eligible to pay with foodstamps, from the items they are paying cash for….such as the cigarettes ( which I gave up because I could no longer afford them) lottery tickets, booze….and oh yeah, the bags of ice.
I know elderly, disabled, and working poor that deserve the food stamps and you know what? They get crap! One elderly lady I know, she and her husband worked all of their lives. He passed away a few years ago after a long illness. She applied for food stamps, was awarded $16.a month for foodstamps! SIXTEEN DOLLARS. You get some unwed mother with a bunch of kids and her live in boyfriend…THEY are the ones that are abusing the system. You see some of these young women and men, looking like some freak from the circus with the tattoos and piercings. Can’t afford to buy their kids food, but have the money for the piercings, jewelry and tattoos? Don’t give me that crock of bull about sterotyping….I sure don’t see any tattoos or pierced noses on that elderly lady I was talking about!
AND, you know what is really strange, I use coupons…but I don’t recall ever seeing SOME of these people with the coffee brandy and foodstamps using coupons….
I would “like” your comment 100 times if I could.
that is what I am talking about… the working poor – huh, you have a job you get $0 help. the elderly woman with $16/mnth, what is she sposed to eat on that??? They have needed a different system since I can remember. the ones who need it dont get it. and $375/mnth for food n bills? on what planet can a single mom live on that??? working 40/wk gives me $1160/mnth b4 taxes. (n they make sure I dont miss a payment on that) rents in not so desirable neighborhoods are $6-700 for a 1 bdrm. If I desire to live in a slightly better neighborhood, $8-950/mth. then there is food, elec, transportation/car repairs n gas to get to that job. what is left for anything….????
I hope she at least had the good sense to buy Allen’s and not some rotgut brand.
And the groceries they bought were mostly junk food. I have been behind people in the grocery store who have their carts filled to the top and when the cashier starts ringing up the groceries I always know who is using an EBT card.
mostly junk food? Well then, we will have to get ANOTHER government program to send a registered dietician into the house a few times a month to “educate” those poor souls so they will understand that an apple IS better for you than a twinkie. Yep, it isn’t their fault. They just don’t know. More gov’t aid to the rescue.
You people are all selfish narrow minded haters! You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Now it’s time you all go and get an education so you don’t sound so ignorant, get 4 years of indoctrination, and understanding of your fellow humans.
you have the best comment on the board tonight – I am in complete agreement with you. What a bunch of nosy, petty, busybody, miserable people. Most of these control freaks aspire to become Dictators, I guess. What a bunch of nasty, whining misanthropes!
I know, we should embrace welfare abusers.
No, we should all be like you and kick people when they are down – you really are a misanthrope.
I know you’d love for everyone to believe that, and it’s a lame way to demonize those who want their tax dollars spent wisely. There are people that need help. Those collecting welfare who can afford booze, tobacco, drugs, tattoos, etc can afford to feed, clothe, and house THEMSELVES.
Again, your support of welfare abuse is noted.
Furthermore, you call someone who gets taxpayers to pay for their food, cell phone, housing, AND booze, butts and tatts “down”? I’d say that’s a pretty sweet racket!
From the former OWS movement.
not even close!
Yes, and now these selfish and narrow minded haters want to go after porn and psychic readings, without even making an exception for neck tattoos. The inhumanity, the humiliation!
It’s about time! We the taxpayers don’t need to be paying for beer, cigarettes and tattoos. Public assistance is for those in need of meeting the necessities….food, clothing, shelter!!!!!
I always find it interesting when there is a story about welfare reform and the comments about how there needs to be more control on how “Their” tax money is being spent (and yes I agree that there is some abuse that needs to be addressed).
BUT, where is the outrage from the Taxpayers about the $BILLIONS that “OUR” Government waste or the $BILLIONS that “OUR” Government GIVES AWAY to foreign Countries, some that just as soon destroy us?
Were was the out rage when people working for the federal goverment use federal credit cards for there own personal use ??
Where was the conservative outrage when G.W. Bush signed legislation to bail out bankers to the tune of over $850,000,000?
It was there, but it was ignored by the popular news media.
Then Obuma doubled down..lol
Of course he did. It was the law of the land. He had no choice, Dumbylandfill. BTW, that was $850,000,000,000.
Oh, Obama had no choice. Gee, wasn’t he going to cut the deficit? Wait, is this all Bush’s fault or the fault of congress? I get confused sometimes as he blames both………for everything.
There is no bigger ego than Obama’s.
You are correct: it is both Bush’s and congress’ fault. Bush bailed the banking industry to the tune of $850,000,ooo,ooo as well as threw us into an UNFUNDED war with Iraq which threw over $800,000,000,000 to Cheney’s corp, Haliburton. Simple math totals that up to roughly 1.6 trillion dollars. Then he lowered taxes. How did he expect to pay for any of it? Of course the country tanked. What do you not understand about these facts?
Well said, brother!
Good. I find nothing wrong with these kinds of restrictions. I am of course weary of using this kind of legislation as fodder and to drum up hatred/disdain for the poor.
Wolfydear, Your last sentence takes away any sign of logical thinking on your part. Why would you “of course” be weary (I think you meant ‘leary’) of legislation enacted to protect the working taxpayer’s benelovent funds from abuse and misuse. These funds are meant to help the needy survive. Not to feed addictions, buy tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets, play slot machines, etc., etc.
I know what the funds are for. Obviously. I’m also not so naive to think that legislation is never put forth as fodder.
Just a note, it’s spelled “leery” not “leary.” And to venture another guess, I think the original intent was the word “wary,” not “weary.”
Thanks
_____
I think you will find that anyone who doesn’t need the help, and those that are using the help as it was intended won’t find anything wrong with these kind of restrictions. It’s those that abuse the system, that have the problems.
I am thankful these programs are out there. Without TANF, I wouldn’t be almost done with my degree. I hope to be able to find a decent job in my chosen field, and get off all help ASAP. I also hope to one day be able to ‘pay it forward’, and help another struggling mother out while she’s trying to create a better life for her and her child(ren). I may not be able to pay Maine back for the help, but if I can help someone in a similar situation as mine out, I will feel even better about putting aside my pride, and accepting help for my daughter.
I’m glad that program was there to help. I’m sure things will start looking up for you soon.
Thank you, I am too! I graduate college in April, and hope to be off all help very soon after that. I chose a degree in a field that is growing quickly due to our aging population (medical administration), so hopefully, it won’t take long to find a job. While it may not be ‘dream job’, it’s one that should allow me to provide for my child!
Good for you. Congratulations and good luck to you!
People like you are what these programs are intended for. I wish you the best of luck in your new career.
“If you’re not abusing the program, then you should really have no problem with these reforms,” is one of the most coherent things said by a Republican in recent memory. This is truly targeting abusers of the system. The point is to provide a reasonable safety net especially to protect children and those truly unable to fully provide for themselves, not give them money for their bad habits.
Elizabeth Lower-Basch is way off base with her comment – fuel for the right wingers.
Reinstate Jackie Whiton. Fired by a business establishment for protecting the welfare of the taxpayers. So right wingers, are you on the side of the employee or management in this case?
I’m in the same boat. On many issues I can be as far left as you can get, but I see this and think ‘Good, what’s the BF deal?’
“Crawford, who has been going on job interviews, said nail or hair salons shouldn’t be put off limits, in part because job-seekers must look presentable: “Luxuries can also help you in the workforce.”
Are you frigen kidding me…I have worked since I was 17 and have managed to get hired at good jobs without a manicure…I also did my own hair and got hired! My husband and I work hard and we pay our bills just fine…BUT we consider buying fruit and vegetables to feed our kids healthy a “luxary” because we don’t have EBT cards!!!!
You are talking crazy ;-)
No she is telling it exactly how it is. I am 68, retired and needed some extra money because of my SS check which is under 500.00 per month. I just got hired and did not get my hair and nails done. If I can find a job at my age why can’t these lazy welfare recipients find a job.
Because most of them are not looking for jobs….nor will they. (note I am saying “most” before I get the “you are a self-serving hate monger who can’t stand poor people” line)
I retired 4 years ago after working 32 years at the same job. I am 68 years old and receive under 500.00 per month for SS. So I went out and found a job without getting my hair and nails done. I don’t understand why a person in their 20’s and 30’s cannot find a job. It may not be the job they want but it is better than nothing. Except for the fact that welfare pays a lot more, so what is the incentive to work.
The 20 and 30 year olds do not have the “experience” someone in their 60s has.. The bulk of the population is also close to their 60s and they would still be working around people close to their age.
You are one of the lucky one’s with a job in a recession. Your luck has always been good. I had luck too when the country was not in the biggest recession since the great depression and jobs have not returned.
“Let them eat cake!!”
LOL. Wat’s next? A urine test?
‘Bout time.
how about restricting things like lobster and steak and redbull. all these things can be bought on foodstamps. just unbelievable!
So welfare recipients should only be able to buy canned beans and ramen noodles?
if the taxpayers are paying for it you are absolutely right!!!
Taxpayers Pay for every morsel of food that goes into the Blaine house.
So I am positive you would be 100% on board with the Lepage family following the same guide lines you suggest, Correct?
absolutely, although there is quite a difference between the person who works for a living and those that sit home with cell phones that we (you and i) pay for with our taxes and smoke cigarettes and who knows what else with money that we( you and i) pay for with our taxes. I have no problem helping the person or family that is having a hard time and are using the food stamps and hand outs wisely. no problem what so ever, just that vegetables and chicken go a lot farther than lobster and fast food.
Still our money, any way you slice it. He gets paid well, he should buy his own food, don’t you think?
yes but like the president, someone made those rules way back. but yes I agree.
Those of us who work full time sometimes have to make cuts in our grocery shopping. Yes, years ago, when my husband and I were first starting our family, we had weeks where it was pasta or canned beans for dinner. I’m not one who believes that people should be rewarded for collecting. And the fact is, those who really need it DO budget and will buy the lesser expensive products and be appreciative for the things they have!
Should be a maximum amount per pound allowed, it is supposed to feed you not let you splurge.
There should also be a maximum length of time for us to support them. 6 months maximum is plenty.
You’re using hyperbole to excess. Most reasonable people, I think, believe that public assistance benefits of all kinds should ONLY be used for the necessities of getting by. Most reasonable people, I think, just want welfare recipients to show respect for the system and the working men and women who support it by paying taxes.
That respect for the system ought to come in the form of making all the same choices with benefit money as they would make if there were no benefits available, and the money had to be earned by hard work – not simply handed over by government.
So
If I could like this 100 times I would —– thank you for summing up my thoughts and feelings so perfectly. I might just have to “copy and paste” you the next time I need to defend my feelings on this subject. I know what I want to say and how I feel, but most times have a hard time putting it into words. Thanks again!
There are many people working 40 hours a week that eat plenty of beans a ramen noodles
No, it is your envy of poor people that is unbelievable!
Envy? LOL! Your defense of welfare abuse speaks volumes.
Not envy. Just sick of supporting the abusers.
no I don’t envy poor people. I feel for the ones that are truly poor not by choice, either by health or bad luck but there are a lot that have self inflicted them selves into this situation, those are the ones I have a problem with.
So, if chicken is $3.99 a pound this week at the grocery store, and london broil is on sale for $2.89 (last week at Hannaford was this exact scenerio), then I should buy the chicken? For no other reason than because I receive food stamps? Makes complete sense to me.
no you should buy what goes further like a frugal person that has no money or little money should do. I did not say chicken I said lobster or high prices meets and by the way, that must have been boneless chicken cause you can buy whole chicken for a lot less and get more than white meat. that is the difference with someone who has grown up in tough times when there was no aid to poor people and we used the chicken for more than meat like making soup with it and sandwiches etc etc. there are a lot of parts on a chicken that are wasted today cause it is too much work because it is given to them for free. not painting all with the same brush but a person can be very frugal on what they receive but a lot of them are not.
you did say lobster and steak… some cuts of steak are cheaper then pork and chicken.
However I do agree that energy drinks are a bit excessive.
believe me it is more than energy drinks, it is all the junk food, candy, chips, soda. we wonder why our nation is so obese, has it occurred to anyone that while the use of welfare has gone through the roof, that the amount of obese people has gone through the roof? no correlation there i suppose? yes I agree on some cuts of steak are cheaper than some boneless breast of chicken but you can bet that the people buying steak on food stamps are not buying cube steak.
…..
I know you didn’t say chicken. It wasn’t on your list of things people who get help shouldn’t buy, so I was using it as an example of things not always being cheaper, even when it’s not a ‘luxury’ like steak or lobster.
Yes, I do buy the boneless chicken, and only when it’s on sale. With boneless breasts, I know I will eat all of it. If I were to buy a whole chicken, more would get discarded than used- skin dark meat make me ill, so that’s tossed. Bones are good for soups like you suggested, by my daughter refuses to eat her food ‘touching’, so it would be just me eating it. I can take a $10 package of boneless breasts (maybe 7 in the package) and get 5-7 meals out of it, depending on what I’m making, and what I serve with it. Brown rice & canned or frozen veggies are used frequently at our house.
I personally would think that’s shopping frugally, but I may be wrong.
This just wastes taxpayer’s money. It’s just a feel good move for political gain. You can get $100 cash at walmart and $200 at hannaford without ATM fees by making a purchase. There doesn’t seem to be a minimum purchase. I used to do it with my paypal debit card to avoid the ATM fees. I would just grab some item in the one dollar price range that I actually needed. That’s what these people are going to do with the rule changes. Are we going to follow them to see where they spend the cash?
Go after the people who spend $750 on a puppy dog or get a car audio system that’s worth more than the car it gets put into. You’re not going to stop the abuse by reprogramming point-of-sale systems. The money would be better spent doing real investigations.
Why would you shop at wal-mart?? I believe it is anti American.
Shop local and the money actually goes to the people in Maine who pays the taxes that funds these programs.
I don’t understand why they get cash on the EBT card. Practically everything else is paid for by taxpayers anyhow…rent, free cellphone, etc. What do they need the cash for?
gosh, golly, gee – what does anyone need cash for – duh?
Cigs, coffee brandy, weed…
Well, aside from what I mentioned above, why should I be covering that? Get a job, I’d say. Just like me.
The rent and other bill money comes on the EBT card, and has to be withdrawn by recipients to pay for those things…
Along these same lines –
I read a post on FB yesterday that said “If you can afford beer, drugs, cigarettes, manicures, and tattoos; you don’t need food stamps or welfare” – you wouldn’t believe the controversy that little post stirred up. Or, based on these comments, maybe you would….
Hey I have that on my wall as well…It’s true…
I have it on mine as well – but there were no responses to it. It was “liked” or “shared” but that was it.
I have had ‘freinds’ share that pic, which is funny because the ones who did were the redneck trash that you are all describing. If they hadn’t dropped out of school, they’d understand what ‘hipocracy’ meant…
Sadly enough it will never end…..Maine is known as the “go to state” for scumbags, leaches,and “God forbid I have to work” dirtbags. For those who use, not abuse, and deserve the help??God Bless. As for the users and abusers??? Get the heck outa Maine. There is a better, more deserving place for you many miles beneath the earth’s surface..enjoy the tripp!!!!!
The lib policies have made it this way, and if we don’t like it, we are:
racist/hate the poor/heartless/greedy, etc.
You are racist. You do hate the poor. You are heartless. You are greedy. And you are a cartoonishly ignorant expression of everything I dislike about republicans.
I’m pretty sure every state thinks it’s the beginning of the end of the world.
About damn time.
drug tests for welfare!
Drug Test the Tea Party!
How many of them have already had a drug test of some sort because they actually work for a living??
And I am adding an edit because the site won’t let me do a direct reply to Pfft2 – I never said that 100% of employers do drug testing – but considering some of them do and right now no one receiving assistance has to do a drug test, it is at least a step in the right direction, IMHO.
Yes, because 100% of employers do drug testing. (Except they don’t.)
How many of them have already had a drug test of some sort because they actually work for a living??
That should be illegal!
Reagan started that nonsense!
Drug test all the politicians.
YES!!!!
as long as you drug test welfare recipients too, let’s do it.
Are they spending money the rest of us earn???
Everybody earns and spends money that was earned and spent from someone else!
You just gotta let go of that dollar!
It’s not healthy thinking about where your dollar is after it departed from you!
Once that Taxation transaction occurred —-it left town for good!
Yes because is has proven to be so cost effective for Florida. But hey, if you want to spend more money to feel better about life, go for it.
Currently Fla is testing out at 2% (with another 2% not willing to take the test) that is a total of 4%, which is half of the national average of 8% of Americans that use drugs.
Way to go F-L-A!
Its about time that this stops. I see this all the time people coming in with tattos on there neck arms. Then draw money off there EBT card to get there smokes. Lets drug test them too.
There, Their, it will all be ok.
Thank you and you must be for the welfare system!!!!
You’re welcome, and you can imagine what I’m for all you like.
fireworks stores accept EBT ,how about stopping
that?
lepage and the repubs seem to think thats ok
I’m surprised that it doesn’t go without saying that benefits should not be used on things like alcohol and strip clubs. Entitlement programs are there to support people just scraping by to make sure they have proper food and shelter.
As was stated in the article, “If you don’t abuse the program, this won’t be a problem.”
Finally, some good ole common sense.
Why wait till 2014. The states should conform now.
If you can afford Cigarettes, booze, tatoo’s etc you don’t need nor should you get food stamps. It’s a matter of priorities. I smoked for 25 years and quit 10 years ago, smartest thing I ever did. Bought my house with it.
Should this not have been a given……….our great system at work. Abuse has been seen for years by employees and no one ever said anything……..and we wonder why we are broke as a country. DHS missing money, CIA losers hook up with prostitutes, SSI retirement going broke, Senators and Congressman using insider trading information to their own advantage. Tax cuts given to the people who make less than $150,000., which all fine and good but does not anyone see a big difference between someone who makes $22,000. and someone who makes $95,000. and above…….it’s the little people keeping this country a float. Crooks and Liars running the country and still we have people saying
“What happened, what’s gone wrong…..The system is not working people because you have just the personal interest of those running the system…….
..
I worked in a grocery store – I worked in a convenience store. (I also work now but no longer in either industry) I watched people come in with their food stamp card and by $150-$200 worth of lobster in one trip – Big Party that weekend – I watched people come over to the convience store and litterally buy $50-$60 at a time of little debbie’s snacks and soda because they looked like they had been on a 3 day drunk, had 4 kids with them and that is what the kids wanted and they were too tired to cook or too sick to cook. In the same convience store, I use to exhaust every dollar on the welfare (cash) portion of an EBT cards for SEVERAL people on $20 scratch tickets, which they couldn’t even leave the store to scratch until they were out of cash…IF THEY NEEDED that money so bad for a month – WHY was it so easy to blow it in one sitting?? I was there working 50 hours a week at $8 an hour to SUPPORT ME AND MY daughter the right way. I watched this over and over for over 15 years in the grocery and convience store business. SO say what you want about Mitt Romney – running him down – I don’t give a crap about what Mitt Romney does with his money…..I’m not PAYING MY taxes so he can get my money to drink, gamble, neglect his kids by feeding them crap, looking at porn or getting tatoos…He’s got his own, we gotta stop being jealous that he was born rich, and REFOCUS on the fact OUR tax money that comes out of our checks each week to pay for the “POOR” PEOPLES vices. I can’t have vices…….I work and can’t afford them….GO FIGURE>>>> If ONE person thinks this is an isolated event – you have been drinking the kool aid – I have seen it for YEARS….
I see nothing harsh about these restrictions and it does make good sense. While the money to support people who cannot or will not support themselves comes from other’s taxes, recipients are not “entitled” to use the money for non necessities like these. It’s a no brainer.
And it’s this handful (HUGE Handful I might add) that are abusing the benefits. When people on State or Federal assistance have more money than a hard working person and can buy better groceries, clothing, and all the other stuff it’s PATHETIC. It’s a slap in the face to those of us who work hard and pay our bills. I think this is long overdue and I agree, NO clear cut cash on those cards should be avaialble. Like the guy who used a TANF benefit to POST HIS BAIL…really?? and there should be a list of ACCEPTABLE items, determined by those of us who PAY FICA for their convenience. Why can’t the gov’t or the tax payers say what THEIR money is used for?
For one thing, the endless paperwork it would create. While possibly ideal, do you want to foot the bill to hire the workers that would be needed to count receipts? Currently DHHS workers have caseloads of over 1000 clients a piece. How many more workers do you think it would take to sort through a month of recipts times 1000?
While ideal, it is hardly practicle; but hey if you are willing to foot that bill, be sure to let the Gov know so he can start hiring.
I’d rather foot that bill (hiring receipt auditors) than the one I’m footing right now!
Then absolutely let your voice be heard. Maine.gov
How do you think drug dealers get paid anyway? Drug dealers even take EBT cards (the whole card) so unscrupulous folks can pay off their drug debt. Welfare is pointless without responsibility. If you don’t make people better themselves with ACCOUNTABILITY you are just aiding their lifestyle. Feel good liberals are the reason welfare has exploded – not the economy. People choose a victim lifestyle – America has millions of opportunities. You can survive poor and still have your integrity – thousands do it every day.
Good! I say drug test them as well.
Can someone help me wrap my head around this before the liberal hordes come for me?
The same people that are all for the Government forcing a private citizen to purchase a product (weather they want to or not) are against telling people what to do when it comes to taxpayers money. Right?
Necessities – food, clothing, shelter, transportation, heat, utilities, and medical. Also important is paper products, hygiene, personal care (hair). If it’s not necessary, it’s frivalous. Video games, vacations, cigarettes, alcohol, gambling, etc. is NOT necessary. They are choices. If you are in need, the choice should be obvious – take care of yourself and your children – find ways to build a healthy home rather than escape and medicate.
Over 21, under 55, NO WELFARE
So what do you propose we do, euthanize everyone with a disability at the age of 21?
Actually forget I asked – The tea party has already answered that question with a yes.
bingo!
I’ve known the lazy folks who like to collect and reap their benefits. I also have known those who are truly disabled and would give anything to work and earn their, but can’t. The latter, in my experiences, are NOT the ones buying booze and cigarettes and getting tattooed. They do tend to budget and stretch every penny.
So then you would not support a flat- over 21 under 55 no welfare rule –
READ before you rant sweet pea or are you to lazy?
Perhaps you need to read. I mentioned nothing about an age. I mentioned those who are disabled and those who are lady folk. Not that age has a thing to do with it in my opinion, but no, I certainly would not support a flat, over 21 under 55 no welfare rule
Well obviously you didn’t read before you ranted – twice now .
I was responding to someone who suggested a flat over 21 under 55 no welfare mandate.
Had you read then you would have known this.
Pot, kettle, black I think :)
We should put an end to the free money train.
Oh the humanity! How can they be so cruel!
Note that this was supported by republicans and democrats. About time.
restrict buying coffee at coffee shops
make ur own at home and bring it with ya
makes sense.
EBT benefits should be restricted to basic necessities. I work more than full time and still have trouble making the circle. Food is the last priority and what remains after bills has to be stretched, and I mean stretched. Sometimes we are so low on resources that we go to bed hungry. Someone needing the government benefits to feed themselves and family should have to do what all working poor must do: pass by the luxury items, the expensive packaged drinks and snacks, the pre-made foods…and budget for meals that are reasonably nutritious (and I know it can be done cheaply). As for being able to purchase cigarettes and alcohol with funds intended to help put food on the table, it is unconscionable that in this day and age the administrators of these programs have not used available technology to restrict bad and costly choices. And if that is what some people use these funds for, they should be eliminated from the rolls.
Then you need a second or a third job to make ends meet. Apparently you haven’t planned very well if you are having such a hard time.
[Crawford] said, “I think you should be accountable for your living situation and should be able to buy what you want as long as your main bills are taken care of.” You CAN…just not with my money.
I am so happy to see these restrictions in the works. It makes sense/cents!
hair and nail saloons shouldnt be put off limits? bologna. Go to walmart and get $20 bucks worth of products and do your war paint at home! My girlfriend seems to always look professional and presentable when she is going to work or applying for said work. Walmart/supercuts offers extremely low priced affordable hair cutting services.
Realistically, needing to have a decent haircut for a job interview could be seen as a justifable expense. However, to use the money that is provided by the government to provide for basic needs to purchase tattoos and other nonsense is pushing the envelope. Spend money you earn any way you damn well please. But not the money that we the taxpayers provide.
….
40 BILLION a year? How is this sustainable?
And the people remain distracted….as the trillions evaporate we fight amongst ourselves over the millions. This is the idea. Our media feeds us a steady diet of stories to make us angry and feel like the waste and fraud is our own neighbors but this is the small stuff. Meanwhile, we waste billions upon billions on unneeded weapons, corporate subsidies to billionaires and bank bailouts.
The wealthy who own our media are training YOU to help them destroy OUR communities and do away with all tangible benefits WE get from government so we are too distracted to notice the massive abuses that line THEIR pockets. We are not cutting the benefits the wealthy extract from our tax dollars. They actually get more than our poor do. A lot more. Yet no outrage there.
Feudalism is coming back to America and this is the way it happens. Make the unruly mobs fight with each other and the rich can steal the kingdoms wealth. It worked in the 1890s and it is working now. Soon enough you will awake to realize you are oppressed and your children have no opportunities.
When we witness third world type poverty in our towns, look to your own selves for making this happen to us. Those happy to attack the poor as some kind of “others” are being manipulated to destroy what we share so those who have more than they could ever spend can have a bit more.
And pre-emptively, I do not live on welfare. I work in a high level position and pay my taxes. I am happy to help a neighbor who has lost their job to eat and stay healthy. The responses I get to calling out class warfare is always the same “get a job loser” that since I know I work and achieve this shows me how distracted and wrong these people are. Because I care about people, I am morally bound to care for them. We used to share this feeling until a very greedy bunch figured out how to manipulate us to fight one another. This is the end game for the elites and the chance to push back is slipping away. Get mad and take action now before you lose your ability to do so.
/////
Welware is a problem when its not used for the purpose it was intended. To many are collecting who shouldn’t be. There is now Pride in this country anymore. Everyone feel they are entitle to something.
I worked for what I have and PROUD of it. Most are lazy. Stop having kids if you can not afford them.
Use your BRAIN, not other parts. I agree that the only way for the system to work, is make a EBT card
that will only pay for Food. Anything else would be rejected.
Winchester once said Tattoo’s are a poor mans form of art.
The people of this country can fix all this by Buying American made products which will produce jobs that these people don’t have and who need help. What a concept. american factories.. I know alot of you want to buy the 29 dollar blue ray player made in China and complain about people on welfare…
The US dollars will loose all it’s value soon enough and the complainers will be in the bread lines with the poor. thats what you will leave your children for buying china crap
Amazing after reading these comments that the
entitlement mentallity that has been hammered home
by the liberators of the poor. Increase the minimum wage
or give the needy more. Romney is to blame for these
poor people. More taxes are needed to keep these poor
people going. What a crock! Like another poster said,
EARN your money…work 2 jobs like many of us did when
we had to. Yeah, raise the minimum wage so prices go up
then we will have to GIVE more to the poor. The ones who
scream the loudest do NOTHING on their own to help
the so-called poor. Heck take the money from someone else but
don’t touch me. All you wonderful blowhards, how about YOU
taking your earnings and saviings and divy it up amongst the
needy. Open your doors and take a needy gal and her kids in
and house them. Lead the way and stop whining and do
something to stand by your convictions.
HomerMaine, Mimimum wages should be 15 dollars per hour.. With the cost of things today there is no need to be paid less for any job.. here is a fact… The bottom 40% of Americans have less than 2% of the wealth. I believe it is around 1.75%… Thats because employers are cheap and want it all themselves.. $15 per hour wouldn’t take a family of 3 out of poverty.
Rent $800.00 mthly
Car payment and operating cost to go to work and other errands $500.00 mthly
food and clothing $600.00 mthly
Health insurance $700.00 mthly
I’m sure I’m missing something$$
+ total $2600.00 per month for a family of 3
$15 per hour X 40 hours = $600.00 wkly X 4 weeks= $2400.00
which put you in the negitive of $200 per month at the wage of $15.00 per hour.
You are right about the cost of food, rent, etc. But every time that the minimum wage goes up, so does the cost of living. Then another minimum wage increase is needed and so on and so on….
….
Try working and you just might get it. No
blowharding here, done exactly what I
have stated. Maybe you should try it and
then you will have some respect for YOURSELf!
Wow, I can’t believe they don’t already enforce this!
I’ve noticed a lot of people comment on people having lots of children on welfare, however, statistics show that large families are least often to use welfare. It is rather one-child families that use welfare. MOST large families are NOT on welfare but support themselves–often because they have high religious values (the reason they have large families in the first place) and so have high moral standards to go with it (meaning they don’t want to use the system if they can help it).
Food stamps are a big help to those really in need of them , but when you see people abuse it like buying soda, chips, and snack food such a waste for really what Food stamps are for.
I think to get full value of the stamps the state should open it’s own stores through out Maine , cut out the middle man , all the money goes to stores like shop n save and other food chain stores then we would get more out of the value of a dollar !
=====
hair and nail salons are not off limits because people need to look
presentable for jobs. a womans hair treatment is 60-100$ i havent been
able to afford professional haircare for years, and i look fine. also.
nail treatments are 40$….. nailpolish is 99 cents. most jobs require
you to not have nails on. maybe thats why it’s been so difficult for me
to find a job….. going to dhhs in the morning and demanding they buy
me a weave.
We need to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour..
If there were’nt any mimimum wage in the State I’m sure the liberals would be happy to pay $2 per hour because they love the class warfare..
Hey you should be happy your working at all, $2 per hour is more then the Chinese get. blablabla….
You should be honored to be working for me for $2. I voted to get you welfare to supplement your wages.. be happy your even allowed to have a job….
You have a typo in there – that “liberals” should read “republican”
The only people that have been pushing to abolish minimum wage have been the republicans.
Your man Lepage being at the top of the list with his attempt to exploit Maine teenagers.
…
So now we dictate what someone considers or can consider for entertainment?!?? A good gamble could win money for someone. Let’s face it. People need something to keep them happy, and since we are to respect each others lives, liberty, and pursuit of happiness then how can one dictate what is acceptable? What makes one person happy doesn’t necessarily work for someone else. I’m sure those with money would not like to be told, you don’t need that property, that plane or vehicle to be happy……… Give it up. You could die in an accident.
It has also been proven that smal amounts of booze are healthy. A glass of wine or beer can lower cholesterol, and fruit mixed with alcohol helps the bodies absorption of anti oxidants.
Deciding that welfare recipients cannot do things that make them healthy and happy? I do not approve.
Why can’t people have a small budget for entertainment, or to indulge enough for a little smile?
“Christopher Borges, a New Hampshire resident, defended his and other welfare recipients’ ability to buy cigarettes in a July 7 editorial submitted to the Concord Monitor newspaper.“Why do people who are sick or unemployed need to justify their spending habits, simply because they are in receipt of support from their community (transferred via the government in the form of cash)?” he wrote.”
I’ll tell you why…because it is not money you earned that you are spending…it is mine, and every other citizen’s who pay taxes in this country. If you want a pack of cigerettes, or any other thing that is not a necessity to sustain your life…go cut someones lawn and earn your own money!
Well, if it’s my money too, and I say it’s alright, does the argument cancel out?
I say…let him cut your lawn.
Only if the government allows us to decide whether we want ANY of our money to go to these items. Are you kidding me??? Using EBT at casinos, liquor stores, hair salons, etc? ENOUGH is enough!
“Crawford, who has been going on job interviews, said nail or hair salons shouldn’t be put off limits.”
I remember having friends and relatives cut my hair because my parents couldn’t afford it. As for the nails…clean and filed…I think you can manage that yourself.
It is about time!!!!!!!
wow i get a 10 dollar ck on mine i could care less if they take it for all i care!
Howie Carr has been on this for the last 3 months. What kicked it off was a drug dealer in Boston making his one phone call after his arrest:
“Get my EBT card and go to the ATM and get the money to bail me out, get me outa here tonight.”
Do a quick search for Massachusetts EBT and you’ll find similar stories.
It is so great to read the post of an intelligent person who “gets it.” I’ve always had well paying jobs too, and never complained about paying my share of taxes.
It is amazing how a handful of super-wealthy are able to pit the pitiable masses against each other. This I know for certain: History never stops repeating itself – governments always collapse because of rampant greed and corruption, and the wealthy never, never, ever, have enough money. Unfortunately, I believe this country has passed its tipping point – just look at the posts of most people on this board.
You should be noticing my support of safety nets.
I don’t support any kind of abuse – I support safety nets. Neither of us knows what tomorrow will bring.
This has been going on since they first started sending out welfare checks, now with the debit card they can see all the purchases made with it. Everytime you swipe the card is registers back to the computes at DHS…..Their should have been a restriction on it years ago. Rent, elect, things that you really need…. Oh did i forget to mention cell phones, cable, dish, car insurance….they all can come off this card just as if you actually put money on it. You can als just take the money off the card and buy your drugs, week and anything else you want…
I can’t understand how all of a sudden they are figuring this out!