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North Country representative seeks to prevent use of public assistance cash in casinos, liquor stores

Posted 12/10/13

A sate legislator from the North Country is asking for support for his bill to keep public assistance recipients from spending cash from those programs in casinos, liquor stores or adult …

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North Country representative seeks to prevent use of public assistance cash in casinos, liquor stores

Posted

A sate legislator from the North Country is asking for support for his bill to keep public assistance recipients from spending cash from those programs in casinos, liquor stores or adult entertainment establishments.

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is calling on his legislative colleagues to pass the Public Assistance Integrity Act (A. 2386), which could preserve substantial federal aid.

The bill, which Blankenbush sponsors, would prohibit cash from public assistance being spent or obtained at ATMs in adult entertainment establishments, casinos and liquor stores.

The federal government has set a deadline for states to pass reform legislation by February 2014 in order to avoid a five percent penalty on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), which in New York state would amount to $125 million.

“The misuse of public assistance dollars on alcohol, gambling and other nefarious activities is draining the welfare system and must be stopped to protect taxpayers and families who need help the most,” said Blankenbush.

“Reforming Welfare is smart fiscally and the right thing to do morally to keep the program solvent for those who are trying to feed their families and get back on their feet.”

Some well publicized media reports have thrown a light on incidents “across both New York and the entire nation, [that] there is a rampant problem of cash assistance being spent on items such as alcohol, cigarettes, lottery tickets, strippers and gambling,” Blankenbush said. “The cash is easily accessible through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards at ATMs. This legislation will require more oversight on cash withdrawals from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance,” Blankenbush said.

“The immediate passage of the Public Assistance Integrity Act should be one of the top priorities in the coming 2014 legislative session,” Blankenbush said. “This is just one of many welfare reforms that must be examined to prevent further fraud and waste.”

The 117th District seat held by Blankenbush, one of four Assembly members representing parts of St. Lawrence County, includes the western townships of DeKalb, Gouverneur, Hermon, Russell, Edwards, Fowler and Pitcairn, along with Lewis County and parts of Jefferson and Oneida counties.