Posted on 05/16/2014 10:17:07 AM PDT by MichCapCon
In an effort to stop abuse of Michigan's food stamps debit card program, State Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, wants state Bridge Cards to have photos and no longer allow recipients to take cash withdrawals from them.
Rep. McMillin introduced House Bill 5536 earlier this week with 12 co-sponsors. He said the technology is available to have the state make direct payments from the Bridge Card to landlords, utilities and child care providers while restricting food and clothing purchases to the basics.
He said those measures as well as a photo identification on the card would greatly reduce fraud and abuse and "ensures the taxpayer funded assistance is going to help out — not (be used) for filet mignon or designer clothes. It also makes sure taxpayer money isn't going for illegal drugs and other illegal or inappropriate expenditures."
There are an estimated 85,000 people in Michigan on Bridge Cards.
Last year, Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation that required the Department of Human Services to check incarceration records and deactivate the Bridge Cards of people who are in prison. The legislation also requires the state to routinely check and see if recipients are on the U.S. Social Security Death Index database. Both practices were already part of DHS policy.
State Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, was involved in trying to end abuse of Bridge Cards in the past. Jones introduced legislation in 2013 after reports that Bridge Cards were being used at liquor stores, horse racing tracks and strip clubs. A state investigation last year found that a casino in Michigan took in $87,000 from Bridge Cards.
Sen. Jones said he would be supportive of the bill, but doesn't think the federal government would allow it.
"Do I agree with it? Yes. But DHS would have to call the feds and see if they would sign off on it. From my conversations in the past, they wouldn't," Sen. Jones said. "The problem is the feds won't allow most of that. The feds have to agree to it. They supply most of the money. Unless something is changed, they won't allow pictures on the card."
Robert McCann, spokesman for the Senate Democrats, would not answer as to whether Senate Democrats would support these Bridge Card reform measures. He did ask if there would also be a call for greater accountability for the "untold millions of dollars that MEDC hands out to corporations as well."
The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Matt Lori, R-Constantine; Rep. Tom Hooker, R-Byron Center; Rep. Dan Lauwers, R-Brockway Township; Rep. Kevin Daley, R-Lum; Rep. Ken Goike, R-Ray Township; Rep. Joel Johnson, R-Clare; Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Saginaw Township; Rep. Bob Genetski, R-Saugatuck; Rep. Ken Yonker, R-Caledonia; Rep. Paul Muxlow, R-Brown City; Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville and Rep. Martin Howrylak, R-Troy. Rep. McMillin is running for Congress to succeed retiring Congressman Mike Rogers in the 8th District.
Photo ID? All together now; 1...2...3...THAT'S RAACISSST!
ID sounds good but removing the ability to get cash on some bridge cards is kind of pointless. They’ll still get the cash in a check form.
In fact, I want assurances that the ID won’t be used for voting. We’ve already got a problem with people who have multiple Bridge cards and we certainly don’t need them using to fraudulently vote. For instance, illegals can get bridge cards.
From the standpoint of the moral integrity of the public, in general, we need to get any "safety-net," actually necessary, out of the administration of any central Government.
See Jefferson's description of how "Welfare" actually worked in a positive manner 232 years ago: Jefferson On Welfare.
We do not want to sound like a cracked record; but, frankly, it does not make any sense to discuss the contrivances of politicians under the pretense of helping the needy, "social justice," "redistribution," or "fairness," without injecting these concepts. Failing to address the essentials to our survival as a people with a sane compass, is like turning toddlers loose in a lab where various deadly pathogens are being cultured for medical research, without adult supervision.
William Flax
The end of May is the deadline for flex spending account reimbursements.
And that is $$$ we earned pretax. Look how much work has to be done by us to get that(our own) $$ back.
And these local governments just hand welfare recipients other peoples $$$ in cash payments no restrictions.
I haven’t tasted filet mignon in awhile. How do I get one of these bridge cards?
What are they calling this? The Detroit Total Incineration Act of 2014?
I have said often that to beat liberals, we need to 1)Pass voter ID/voter reform, 2) Severely limit the public unions bargaining power, and especially stop state collection of dues, and 3) state welfare reform like this bill.
Get rid of the fraud, rid of the union ATM machine, and get rid of the constituency, and the Dem party dries up. Best party it can ALL be done at the state level.
Strippers and dope dealers hardest hit.
Beauty. Have the recipient provide proof of legal citizenship, and the Photo Bridge Card could be used for the photo Voter ID mandate that Michigan has.
No more excuses about being 'disenfranchised' because it's too hard to get a photo ID. People sure line up fast enough for Bridge cards.
I doubt they turn down illegals
“-——— while restricting food and clothing purchases to the basics.”
—
Who decides what the basics are in clothing?
They should just put a dollar limit on it before someone declares 10 pairs of shoes is “basic’.
.
Make food stamps only good for the purchase of rice and beans. One can live a healthy life on rice and beans. Plus, it would cut down on the obesity problem.
"Beans, beans the magical fruit...."
if the feds set the rules, then let the feds cough up ALL the cash...
if they are issuing unfunded mandates, sue them...
roberts ruling on fubocare will ensure a victory here..
>>without adult supervision. <<
What? Do you think politicians will agree to adult supervision? You’ve got to be kidding me.
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