The Peru Gazette

From the Office of state Senator Betty Little

The New York State Senate will act today on the “Public Assistance
Integrity Act,” sponsored by Senator Tom Libous (R-C-I, Binghamton) and
cosponsored by Senator Betty Little (R-C-I, Queensbury)  that would help
cut down on the flagrant abuse of EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards
by prohibiting welfare recipients from using cash assistance to purchase
tobacco, alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets or to gamble.

“Public assistance is designed to help needy families provide for
their children until they can transition back to the workforce and become
self-sufficient,”  Senator Libous said.  “This common-sense legislation
would protect hardworking taxpayers from abuse while ensuring that families
receiving welfare benefits continue to get the temporary assistance they
need and deserve.”

EBT cards work like a debit card for welfare recipients. This card
contains both Food Stamps and Cash Assistance. Food Stamps have strict
regulations on what can be purchased, Cash Assistance does not. Cash
Assistance is intended for items that can’t be purchased using food stamps,
like soap, toothpaste, school supplies and toiletries.

However, recipients can also legally use this cash assistance to buy
cigarettes and beer, or even to fund an afternoon at the racetrack or an
evening at a local strip club. Currently, there are no laws or regulations
against using taxpayer dollars for alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets or
gambling.

If signed into law, the Public Assistance Integrity Act (S966) would
limit where EBT cards can be used and what they can be used for. Last year,
the bill passed the Senate 56-3 but the Assembly didn’t act on the bill.
The Assembly needs to pass the bill this session or federal aid will be at
risk.

The federal government has mandated that each state establish a
system of fraud prevention in place by February 2014. If the state does not
act, the federal government will penalize New York by cutting federal
funding for Cash Assistance by 5 percent ($120 million).  New York spends
over $2.7 billion each year administering Cash Assistance.

“Obviously, the majority of families and individuals receiving public
assistance use their assistance responsibly to help care for their
families,” said Senator Libous. “But it’s been widely reported that abuse
does occur. We want to do everything we can to make sure this much-needed
assistance goes to help families, not hurt them.”

Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan said: “Recipients of
assistance should not be permitted to spend their benefit money on illegal
drugs, liquor, cigarettes or lap dances. Taxpayers expect their hard earned
money to go for the necessities of people in need, and not to pay for
someone to frolic around town. We owe the taxpayer more oversight and
better accountability. This bill is an important step in providing that
control and curtailing this flagrant abuse.”

Senator Betty Little, (R-C-I, Queensbury) said:  “When purchases such
as lottery tickets and cigarettes are possible with public assistance
dollars, the government clearly has failed in its responsibility to the
taxpayers footing the bill. We all represent constituents struggling to
make ends meet and they’re making sacrifices on things they’d like to buy
but simply can’t afford.  That same standard has to apply when it comes to
public assistance.  Stronger laws are needed so that this public benefit
isn’t misused.”

Senator Kathleen A. Marchione (R-C, Halfmoon) said: “Speaking as a
former single mother who worked hard to provide for her children, I think
it’s unconscionable that someone on welfare would attempt to take advantage
of the generosity of hard-working taxpayers. Public assistance benefits are
supposed to go toward food and other basic necessities, and not be misused
to purchase alcohol, cigarettes and lottery tickets, or be withdrawn from
ATMs at liquor stores and strip clubs. The bill I am cosponsoring, the
‘Public Assistance Integrity Act,’ would help end this type of outrageous
welfare fraud and stop the misuse of our public assistance system.”

Senator Mark Grisanti (R-I, 60th District) said:  “The Senate again
made the right choice in protecting your tax dollars by passing a measure
that would stop the abuse in the welfare program. Using your tax dollars to
support a transaction at a liquor store, casino or strip club is not only
inappropriate but it goes against the intent of the welfare program.”

Senator John A. DeFrancisco (R-C-I, Syracuse) said: “Taxpayers should
be outraged that their money is being used improperly by welfare recipients
for tobacco, alcohol, strip bars and lottery tickets when times are so
tough for so many families. In response to this wasteful spending, the
Senate has passed the Public Assistance Integrity Act to prohibit public
money from being used for these types of activities.”

Warren County Sheriff Bud York said: “It is shocking that the current
system allows cash to be used without any oversight. We know from our cases
that there is wide-spread abuse, including buying illegal drugs, booze and
cigarettes. This bill helps limit this unacceptable practice.”

Paula Reid, Welfare Investigator for Washington County and an officer
of the New York State Welfare Fraud Investigators Association, said: “
NYWFIA supports this bill because it increases the public’s confidence in
the integrity of the social services programs offered to recipients. This
bill will help in maintaining that integrity and working with those who use
their benefits for their intended purpose