Do You Agree With Bates? EBT Cards Should Not Buy Booze, Smokes
Sen. David Bates of Barrington and East Providence has introduced a bill to ban the use of public cash assistance for alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets.
Sen. David Bates of Barrington and Riverside doesn’t think recipients of public assistance should be able to use the cash to buy alcohol, tobacco or lottery tickets.
“Cash assistance programs are wonderful for the people that are really in need of it, but for people who want a gallon of ice cream and a filet mignon every night, that‘s not right,” Bates said in a story that aired on WPRI-TVbout the widespread use of EBT cards at bars and taverns.
Bates is pushing a bill in the Senate that would make it harder for recipients to use their EBT cards to drink or smoke or gamble. He said he modeled his bill after similar legislation that was passed in Massachusetts.
Even if Bates’ bill doesn’t become a law, all states have until next year to begin enforcing the federal restrictions or they risk losing funding for cash assistance programs, according to WPRI-TV.
Bates said his goal is to focus on enforcing the law on retailers, not recipients.
“If the feds aren’t going to do anything about it, we’re going to try,” Bates said. “This gives Rhode Island a chance to get in the mix and get the State Police involved.”
Please volunteer
7:18 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Absolutely agree!
jack held
3:16 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Nearly have the state receives food stamps,not all people even get a cash benefit. I'm fine with no tobacco and booze.,I do NOT agree that the state should tell people what to eat.I'm permantly disabled and depend on the $103 dollars I get in food stamps.I used to be an RN and was respected,now that I have a disease where I can't work it's horrible. Most people do NOT want to have to depend on SSI and food stamps. PS I get $1.00 yearly foe heat. Have some compassion,nobody wants to live like this.
B/STOCK
3:33 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
jack held--I don't know anyone that does not want to help the needy. There is just so much fraud in the system the taxpayers are very fustrated about it. Sorry about your health. Best of luck.
Mrs. B
12:52 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Good luck with that, Mr. Bates.
B/STOCK
1:41 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
I am for anything that makes it harder to scam the system. This falls under that. On second thought I think the state should let people buy booze, cigarettes, lap dances etc. on their gimme cards and rescind their benefits if they use them for those purposes. The main problem with this state and country is the is no shame anymore. Gods speed Mr. Bates
cricket
2:36 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Thank you for your hard work on this issue. I thought assistance was for food, not alcohol and tobacco!
lorraine dalesio
7:28 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Food stamps can only be used for FOOD! It's the cash assistance that is being abused. Perhaps efforts should be directed at the problem of the cash. I know you cannot even use them for necessities like toothpaste toilet paper etc. Direct your energy in the right direction.
Austin mederios
8:06 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Im sick of ebt cadh abuse! Get this handled soon because it's not right for people to feed there addictions while us honest hard workers pay!
resident
10:20 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Lorraine you are mis-informed. The food stamp benefit is also scammed. People sell their cards for 50 cents on the dollar. I work for welfare so I know. People come in every single month and say they lost their cards and need a new one because they sell theirs. It's a pathetic waste of our tax dollars, all of it. There MAY BE 10% of people on cash and food stamps who really need and deserve it. Cash assistance is an even bigger problem but I don't have all night.
Maggie
8:02 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
EBT should not be used for bags and bags of candy either....just stand in line at the Dollar Tree and watch how much is spent on junk food and soda.
Mike
6:25 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
They need to make the cards so they are scanned at the register and not except any items that that are not on the list of things they are good for. It could be done very easy. I tired of paying for these degenerates that all they want is a free handout.