Thanks Fool, and how bout getting that cable bill up to date.
Posted on 05/07/2009 7:56:03 AM PDT by DCBryan1
Free cars for poor fuel road rage
By Hillary Chabot
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Gov. Deval Patrick’s free wheels for welfare recipients program is revving up despite the stalled economy, as the keys to donated cars loaded with state-funded insurance, repairs and even AAA membership are handed out to get them to work.
But the program - fueled by a funding boost despite the state’s fiscal crash - allows those who end up back on welfare to keep the cars anyway.
“It’s mind-boggling. You’ve got people out there saying, ‘I just lost my job. Hey, can I get a free car, too?’ ” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading).
The Patrick administration decided last month to funnel an additional $30,000 to the nearly $400,000 annual car ownership program.
The program, which is provided by the State Department of Transitional Assistance, gives out about 65 cars a year, said DTA Commissioner Julia Kehoe.
The state pays for the car’s insurance, inspection, excise tax, title, registration, repairs and a AAA membership for one year at a total cost of roughly $6,000 per car.
The program, which started in 2006, distributes cars donated by non-profit charities such as Good News Garage, a Lutheran charity, which also does the repair work on the car and bills the state.
Kehoe defended the program, saying the state breaks even by cutting welfare payments to the family - about $6,000 a year.
“If you look at the overall picture, this helps make sure people aren’t staying on cash assistance. It’s a relatively short payment for a long-term benefit,” Kehoe said.
But Kehoe admitted about 20 percent of those who received a car ended up back on welfare, and while they lose the insurance and other benefits, they don’t have to return the car.
“Given the state’s fiscal condition, paying for AAA and auto inspection costs is outrageous,” said Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield). “There are so many families out there trying to deal with layoffs and pay cuts. You have to wonder what the state’s priorities are at this point.”
Applicants for cars must have a job or prove they could get one if they had the car in order to qualify. Once they have the wheels, they must send DTA their pay stubs to prove they are employed.
To get the cars, they must be unable to reach work by public transportation and have a clean driving record. The program is only available to families on welfare with children.
Kehoe said the bulk of cars go to places with less public transportation, such as Fitchburg, New Bedford and Lowell.
“I can’t believe there are no restrictions on how they use the car,” Jones said. “I just don’t see this as a core function of government.”
Forget tar and feathering...we need to bring back burning at the stake for the "lumpen proletariat" and those that enable them.
This government is INSANE. Liberalism gone mad.
Gee, I’ve been waiting for my pony when all along I could have had a car.
Someday I’d like to meet the family I’m sponsoring. In the meantime, it’d be nice if they could maybe write me a letter introducing themselves, and send me some photos of the house I’m buying for them, the car I purchased for them, the school I’m paying for their kids to attend, the groceries I buy for them, etc. Then I’d feel better about getting up every morning and going to work, knowing who and what I’m working for.
That’d be nice.
“The program, which started in 2006, distributes cars donated by non-profit charities such as Good News Garage, a Lutheran charity, which also does the repair work on the car and bills the state.”
Nice “Vehicle Medicare” racket. The government is completely out of control.
It's going to take a lot more than words to tame this beast. A LOT more!
Thanks Fool, and how bout getting that cable bill up to date.
Socialists are thieves who use taxpayer’s money to buy votes through giveaway programs. Why not cars? Socialists buy votes with housing, education, health care, child care and food. They might as well put their show on the road, and buy their voters cars. Maybe it’s the rest of us who are approaching this the wrong way. Gun owners should show a willingness to be bought, if the Socialist government(s) agree to arm every citizen. There should be a free chainsaw program for firewood cutters and loggers. Hunters should get free permits, and fishermen should get free fishing licenses. My favorite form of exercise is swimming, so the government should put a heated swimming pool in my back yard, and pay for the energy required to heat it. How about free tillers for gardeners? Every home should have one.
dont forget the free cell phone can’t drive to cash your welfare check inour welfare car without your free welfare cell phone
http://www.cellphonedigest.net/news/2009/02/safelink_wireless_to_aid_lowin_1.php
SafeLink Wireless to Aid Low-Income Households in Massachusetts
February 5, 2009 11:47 AM
TracFone Wireless, Inc. today announced its launch of SafeLink Wireless in Massachusetts. (Note: The company launched similar service in Tennessee, last August). SafeLink Wireless will serve as the company’s distribution of Lifeline - a U.S. government supported program for income eligible households that ensures telephone service is available and affordable for eligible low-income households.
The SafeLink Wireless service will provide eligible low-income households a free cell phone, mobile access to emergency services and free 80 minutes of air time, monthly, for one year. The cell phone offers in-demand features: voicemail, text, call waiting, international calling to over 60 destinations and caller ID.
“More than 424,000 households in Massachusetts qualify for the Lifeline services – offering these participants the opportunity to have the same access and privileges many individuals take for granted when it comes to using cell phones,” said Jose Fuentes, Director of Government Relations for TracFone. “The SafeLink Wireless service is truly unique because we are providing a service that no other company has made available before – a free cell phone and free monthly minutes to qualifying low income families,” added Fuentes.
Hey, man. Mah car done broke. I were dragracin' an dis other dude were gittin' ahid uh me, so I just kep pourin' it on. Damn engine blew. Gimmee a new one. Ah need it for tomorrow since I got to look fo a new job since ah got fired from duh ole one.
This is liberalism in action. And yes, it is insane.
I guess those pathetic people in the drive-thru line for their free chicken were sitting in their government cars.
I see a pathetic population.
186 days on unemployment, cant find a drafting position anywhere in the area, state or country. Im thinking of knocking up a couple gals, getting arrested a couple times and signing up for welfare. Think that will work? Being responsible and hardworking hasnt seemed to get me anywhere.
You sound like the perfect Obama appointee, you should try for that vacant SC seat.
par for the libtard course...
“Together We Can” go bankrupt: Massachusetts’ Liberal spending spree implodes
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2241978/posts
If you drop to one knee and tattoo a (D) in blood on your chest I hear it cuts through ALL the red tape for the free money line...
Ed, think two words ....CHILD SUPPORT...never use that kind of thinking again...Good Luck in your job efforts.
Quit drafting things, draft laws, rules, ordinances, codes, regulation, interpretations of regulations, etc. Plenty of work.
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