New Alabama bill prohibits welfare money use on liquor, tattoos

al.com ^ | Monday, July 30, 2012, 7:00 AM

[Repeal The 17th]

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again...
Any program that allows you to buy canned chili
but prohibits you from buying toilet paper
is fatally flawed from the git-go.

[musicman]

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[Ouderkirk]

All of these programs should just be ended.

I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.

In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.

There is no country in the world where so many provisions are established for them; so many hospitals to receive them when they are sick or lame, founded and maintained by voluntary charities; so many alms-houses for the aged of both sexes, together with a solemn general law made by the rich to subject their estates to a heavy tax for the support of the poor.

Under all these obligations, are our poor modest, humble, and thankful; and do they use their best endeavors to maintain themselves, and lighten our shoulders of this burthen?

On the contrary, I affirm that there is no country in the world in which the poor are more idle, dissolute, drunken, and insolent.

The day you passed that act, you took away from before their eyes the greatest of all inducements to industry, frugality, and sobriety, by giving them a dependence on somewhat else than a careful accumulation during youth and health, for support in age or sickness.

In short, you offered a premium for the encouragement of idleness, and you should not now wonder that it has had its effect in the increase of poverty.


Ben Franklin - 1776

[PubliusMM]

“New Alabama bill prohibits welfare money use on liquor, tattoos”

Well, there goes Alabama’s economic recovery...

[Road Glide]

“New Alabama bill prohibits welfare money use on liquor, tattoos”

ACLU will take this to court and win.

They’ll argue that tattoos represent a form of “expression” that is protected by the First Amendment, and the courts will agree.

Jes’ predictin’...

[Carriage Hill]

This'll be coming-out any second:

[from occupied ga]

1766 not 1776

[Chode]

how about any business that takes State money loses their business license???

bet that would slow it down...

[bgill]

Party poopers.

[FlingWingFlyer]

This should really piss off Eric the Holder. Alabama can expect another lawsuit from the buffoons in Washington.

[Ouderkirk]

When it’s that far back what’s a few years ;-)

Thanks for the correction.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

prohibit people from using their benefits in, or making cash withdrawals at, bars, casinos, tattoo parlors, strip clubs or facilities that offer psychic services

This is a completely pointless law, because it won't stop anything. The welfare benefits in question are cash benefits (effectively, they replaced welfare checks that people would cash/deposit, with debit cards). People can just go to an ATM and take out cash. The prohibition on making cash withdrawals at bars, casinos, etc., is worthless - people can simply make cash withdrawals next door to a bar, casino, etc. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to seee a bunch of high-fee, privately-owned ATMs sprouting up right outside of these prohibited places.

[MtnClimber]

Donate food stamps for 0nama. that should work!

[BobL]

...and once again Alabama is making the Texas Legislature and Governor look like a bunch of MORONS for thinking about this problem (just as they don’t consider Illegal Immigration to be an issue).

[publius911]

"We do take very seriously that people do use benefits responsibly. We do think the majority of the people on the program do use the money responsibly," Spear said.

That may be true, you moron, and it wouldn't matter if it were all your money.

With the amounts involved, and the millions of parasites on the programs, that "minority" you casually "think" are irresponsible can add up to tens of billions$.

We need an accounting, dammit!

[publius911]

They’ll argue that tattoos represent a form of “expression” that is protected by the First Amendment, and the courts will agree.

The court will also have to be persuaded that the overtaxed taxpayer is obligated, at gunpoint if necessary, to pay for it.

If "freedom of expression" is not cost free, it is no longer freedom of expression, but extortion.

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

Run it the way we used to run the Air Force Government Travel Card Program.

Limit the amount of cash allowed to be withdrawn. I’m sure they can use it to pay for groceries, since that is its function.

Set up automated “flags” for attempted misuse. Set and enforce penalties.

This crap has gone on long enough. The gravy train is out of gravy.

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

People can just go to an ATM and take out cash. The prohibition on making cash withdrawals at bars, casinos, etc., is worthless - people can simply make cash withdrawals next door to a bar, casino, etc.

---

Its intended for the purchase of food at grocery stores. Limit its use to purchasing food at grocery stores.

TURN OFF THE DAMNED ATM FUNCTION!

[lookout88]

I am for healthy food gruel to replace food stamps for the stupid and lazy.