Bill Would Prohibit Use of Welfare, Child Support to Buy Booze
The House today approved a welfare reform bill sponsored by Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana) that would prohibit the use of welfare and child support payments to purchase alcohol.
“Welfare dollars should not be used to purchase alcohol,” Reed said. “We always have to remember, one person’s welfare dollar started out as another person’s tax dollar. That taxpayer deserves to know that they didn’t go to work and pay their taxes so that a welfare recipient could go out and buy a bottle of alcohol.”
Reed’s legislation – House Bill 74 – would prevent state liquor stores and beer distributorships from accepting electronic benefit cards (EBTs), which are part of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s (DPW) cash assistance and food stamp programs.
“Every welfare dollar that is used to purchase alcohol is another dollar that isn’t available to help someone truly in need,” Reed said. “Welfare programs should be aimed at providing basic necessities, such as food and clothing, for people who are down on their luck. It shouldn’t be a taxpayer subsidy to pay for a welfare recipient’s drinking habit.”
In addition, Reed’s bill would prohibit the acceptance of EPPICards – debit cards issued in lieu of child support payments by the domestic relation sections of county courts of common pleas – from being used to purchase alcohol.
“Since children aren’t old enough to consume alcohol, there’s absolutely no reason why child support payments should be used to purchase booze,” Reed said. “That money is supposed to be used to benefit the child. The parent making the payments deserves to know that the money is being used to feed and clothe their child – not for a six pack of beer for the other parent.”
Reed’s bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
“I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take swift action to pass this bill,” Reed said. “Pennsylvania taxpayers and child support payers deserve to know their dollars are being used for their intended purposes. This is a common sense bill to protect taxpayers and children.”
“Welfare dollars should not be used to purchase alcohol,” Reed said. “We always have to remember, one person’s welfare dollar started out as another person’s tax dollar. That taxpayer deserves to know that they didn’t go to work and pay their taxes so that a welfare recipient could go out and buy a bottle of alcohol.”
Reed’s legislation – House Bill 74 – would prevent state liquor stores and beer distributorships from accepting electronic benefit cards (EBTs), which are part of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s (DPW) cash assistance and food stamp programs.
“Every welfare dollar that is used to purchase alcohol is another dollar that isn’t available to help someone truly in need,” Reed said. “Welfare programs should be aimed at providing basic necessities, such as food and clothing, for people who are down on their luck. It shouldn’t be a taxpayer subsidy to pay for a welfare recipient’s drinking habit.”
In addition, Reed’s bill would prohibit the acceptance of EPPICards – debit cards issued in lieu of child support payments by the domestic relation sections of county courts of common pleas – from being used to purchase alcohol.
“Since children aren’t old enough to consume alcohol, there’s absolutely no reason why child support payments should be used to purchase booze,” Reed said. “That money is supposed to be used to benefit the child. The parent making the payments deserves to know that the money is being used to feed and clothe their child – not for a six pack of beer for the other parent.”
Reed’s bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
“I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take swift action to pass this bill,” Reed said. “Pennsylvania taxpayers and child support payers deserve to know their dollars are being used for their intended purposes. This is a common sense bill to protect taxpayers and children.”
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Comments
The drug testing idea was better.