Schwarzenegger bans welfare cards at psychics

Associated Press ^ | 11/01/10 | AP

[Kimberly GG]

LOS ANGELES – Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneger says welfare recipients can no longer use state-issued debit cards at medical marijuana shops, psychics and other businesses whose services have been deemed "inconsistent with the intent" of the program.

[Kimberly GG]

"Other businesses affected by the ban include bail bond establishments, bingo halls, cruise ships and tattoo parlors.

In June, Schwarzenegger barred welfare cards at casino ATMs following a Times report that CalWORKS cards were being used to withdraw cash in more than half the casinos in the state."

[Kimberly GG]

Is it no wonder?

[Ezekiel]

Schwarzenegger bans welfare cards at psychics

Haha, must be even the mediums are prognosticating the truth.

[blueplum]

amazing, considering how much the State has spent on computer systems and associated training courses, that safeguards were not automatically built into the system when the programming was written, to flag such uses as they occurred, instead of discovering this years after the fact when recovering misused funds from the abusers is practically impossible to do...

[Moose Burger]

It would be almost funny if it weren’t so pathetic. One would think that’be obvious; I don’t think people goes into welfare due to their amazing skills to spend money well. I feel sorry for the people whose money is taken away to pay for the cards.

[Doogle]

..wonder if they saw this coming?

[C210N]

Why not approach from the other part of the spectrum? Instead of ramping up on a ban list, ramp up on a valid list. Make them more like “gift cards”, and choose a very limited set of food stores and then add a bit as needed/warranted.

[starright]

I wonder if they can be used for political donations?

[BunnySlippers]

[BunnySlippers]

Candy-Grams?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Stop taking money from people who work and giving it freeloaders. Regardless of race, creed or national origin. Period.

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

Giving them ATM cards just might be the problem in the first place! If there is evidence of the cards being used at casinos, cruise ships, mary jane shops, etc, don’t you think, just maybe, those people might not be as “needy” as they are purported to be? Cut the amount they are given!

[television is just wrong]

they will not b ecause they are more afraid of them than they are of the working class.

[fr_freak]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneger says welfare recipients can no longer use state-issued debit cards at medical marijuana shops, psychics and other businesses whose services have been deemed "inconsistent with the intent" of the program.

I like the cracking down on abuse of the system, but my question is this: what authority does the governor have to make these kinds of declarations? The article says nothing about an act of the legislature, giving me the impression that Schwarzenegger made some kind of executive order, but the whole welfare scheme is exactly the kind of thing that should be governed by law, not the whim of a governor. I want to see these limits set in stone, so that when some yahoo such as Moonbeam gets in office, he doesn't have the arbitrary power to do all kinds of shenanigans with the welfare system at a whim. We are not supposed to have a king, not at the state level or the federal level.

[Dahoser]

[petercooper]

I feel sorry for the people whose money is taken away to pay for the cards.

You mean us!

[bjorn14]

Psychics, huh? They must be going there for those lucky Lotto numbers.

[dubyagee]

.

[maryz]

can no longer use state-issued debit cards at medical marijuana shops, psychics and other businesses whose services have been deemed "inconsistent with the intent" of the program.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the people just be able to use the cards at ATMs and use the cash for whatever they prefer? Much like the old days of paper welfare checks.

Sounds more like a meaningless political ploy to look like he's cracking down without actually doing anything.

[Wolfie]

Dang, How’m I gonna get the winning lotto numbers now?