Louisiana Food Stamp Recipients – No More Booze, Broads, or Bras!

[Pogo]

I doubt this kind of thing was ever a big problem. Nevertheless, it is well and good to prohibit these kinds of purchases.

This new law makes a great soundbite on the campaign trail. A lawmaker gets to sound like a moral upstanding guy, keeping those lazy welfare leeches from boozing and whoring it up. Then he can go back to the office and bang a staffer and feel good about himself.

Except for those who realize EBT cards already couldn't be used for any of that shit...
They're exchangeable for food only, and not even for prepared food. You can't use it in a nail salon, a strip club or whatever else. You can't even use it in a bar, because it's prepared food. And you certainly couldn't buy alcohol with it even in a grocery store.

No, that's wrong. You could use the EBT cash for ANYTHING! Note: several places in this area ADVERTISE that you can pay for prepared foods (including pizza DELIVERY) with EBT. (I have gotten their junk mail.)

I dunno, there may be vendors breaking the law but the system isn't even set up to accept it that way. You run 3 cans of beans and a loaf of bread and a hot sandwich through the card reader and you'll have a balance due for the hot sandwich because EBT specifically does not apply -- let alone liquor and fingernails and strippers. In order to do any of that you'd have to masquerade the purchase as groceries.

I suppose advertisers can claim all kinds of crap they don't have to deliver on but how would you get a pizza delivery via EBT? Phone the number in? That doesn't work either, and it's not like a pizza delivery boy has a wireless EBT card reader with him. I'm not even sure that exists. Possibly a "bake-at-home" unfinished pizza might qualify in a grey area but that's about as far as I can stretch the premise.

I've used EBTs so I assess this from experience. I suspect Bobby Brady and the Sleaziana masturbature is conducting a circus to score political points with those of the upper classes who have no experience with EBT and don't know any better. And the classes who do use it and do know better aren't gonna be his voters anyway, plus they have no voice to point this out.

Long story short - just because somebody advertises something doesn't mean it's either legal or honest.

 

[Vandalshandle]

I'm losing patience with cranks who insist on creating one scandal after another out of thin air.

This is the Louisiana policy on what food stamps may be used for:

Eligible Food ItemsHouseholds CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:

•Foods for the household to eat, such as:
◦breads and cereals;
◦fruits and vegetables;
◦meats, fish and poultry; and
◦dairy products.

•Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:

•Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco;
•Any nonfood items, such as:
◦pet foods;
◦soaps, paper products; and
◦household supplies.

•Vitamins and medicines;
•Food that will be eaten in the store;
•Hot foods.


This is the link:

Department of Children & Family Services | State of Louisiana

I hope to hell that puts the end to yet another incredibly stupid republican talking point. And thanks, so much, Bobby Jindal, and the republican legislature, for spending time passing laws against what is already illegal, instead of concentrating on real problems, like trying to fix a public education system which is worse than every state in the USA except Mississippi.

 

[Pogo]

I'm losing patience with cranks who insist on creating one scandal after another out of thin air.

This is the Louisiana policy on what food stamps may be used for:

Eligible Food ItemsHouseholds CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:

•Foods for the household to eat, such as:
◦breads and cereals;
◦fruits and vegetables;
◦meats, fish and poultry; and
◦dairy products.

•Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:

•Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco;
•Any nonfood items, such as:
◦pet foods;
◦soaps, paper products; and
◦household supplies.

•Vitamins and medicines;
•Food that will be eaten in the store;
•Hot foods.


This is the link:

Department of Children & Family Services | State of Louisiana

I hope to hell that puts the end to yet another incredibly stupid republican talking point.

That ^^ is the way it's been as long as I can remember. But there is one other thing EBT can be used for: political posturing.

Wasn't there a similar story a while back about the idea of EBT being used to buy pot in Colorado?

 

[Vandalshandle]

I love the part about banning the use of food stamps on cruise ships. Any idiot knows that food is provided at no extra charge on cruise ships, and alcoholic drinks are already off limits for food stamps.

GEEZE!

 

[High_Gravity]

This heah is 'bout controllin' Tyrone and Leon and Lakeesha and Leroy.

 

[Pogo]

I love the part about banning the use of food stamps on cruise ships. Any idiot knows that food is provided at no extra charge on cruise ships, and alcoholic drinks are already off limits for food stamps.

GEEZE!

And we all know welfare recipients are always taking cruises...

It's stupid using EBTs for strippers and champagne -- I use mine for buying shares of stock. If the stock plummets, who cares, it's free money, I just buy another stock. I'm gonna pay my car insurance and dental bills with it. And then with the rest of the monthly allotment I'll cruise eBay for knickknacks. Or maybe I'll get some fine art to dress up the walls...

(/sarc)

 

[ogibillm]

I'm losing patience with cranks who insist on creating one scandal after another out of thin air.

This is the Louisiana policy on what food stamps may be used for:

Eligible Food ItemsHouseholds CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:

•Foods for the household to eat, such as:
◦breads and cereals;
◦fruits and vegetables;
◦meats, fish and poultry; and
◦dairy products.

•Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:

•Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco;
•Any nonfood items, such as:
◦pet foods;
◦soaps, paper products; and
◦household supplies.

•Vitamins and medicines;
•Food that will be eaten in the store;
•Hot foods.


This is the link:

Department of Children & Family Services | State of Louisiana

I hope to hell that puts the end to yet another incredibly stupid republican talking point.

That ^^ is the way it's been as long as I can remember. But there is one other thing EBT can be used for: political posturing.

Wasn't there a similar story a while back about the idea of EBT being used to buy pot in Colorado?

SNAP benefit, or in the colloquial "food stamps" can only be used for those items. quite often a person's SNAP benefits are placed on an EBT card. However, there are other funds that can be placed on there. Cash benefit welfare, child support, TANF, etc.

in the cases of those benefits the Electronic Benefit Transfer card can be used for expenditures SNAP doesn't cover - or used at an ATM to withdraw cash.

and yes, i agree, people using these benefits shouldn't be using them for strippers or bar tabs. However, I think the law will be a nightmare to enforce and that the punishments are extreme. I would much rather have seen a law, or even just quiet rule changes, where abuse was flagged and then on a case by case basis determined whether the individual needed to attend a personal finance class or have their benefits reviewed for fraud.

after all since the ebt can't be used inside the bar i guess people will just have to hit up the atm outside first.

 

[depotoo]

http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=898641&n=HB1176 Reengrossed
the bill itself
Ebt cards can also have welfare's, temporary assistance funds, et al, cash benefits loaded on them, not just snap funds. This bill is only to reinforce the rules the state had already set in place, and make it official law. It also now institutes as law punishment against the businesses themselves, that accept them for items not allowed.

 

[depotoo]

SB 417 Senate Bill - Bill Analysis

It being used for cruises, et al, was a big enough problem in CA they passed a bill

 

[boedicca]

Considering the dimensions of many recipients, they might want to reconsider the BRA thing.

Just sayin'.

 

[depotoo]

Why won't Republican argue that this is just more big government control over people's personal lives?

What a false narrative. When my money is being used by welfare recipients I want to know they are using it on life essentials-not to go to strip clubs. Just as Ibwant to know that the govt uses my money responsibly, such as on $5 million in bonuses, without any proper vetting as to whether it was deserved by actually performing a job well.

The govt. has a responsibility to be a good steward of money we, as tax payers, have entrusted them with.

 

[Pogo]

Why won't Republican argue that this is just more big government control over people's personal lives?

What a false narrative. When my money is being used by welfare recipients I want to know they are using it on life essentials-not to go to strip clubs. .

Which anyone would know by simply reading the rules as listed in post 22 -- which is the way it's always been. There has NEVER been a time you could spend food stamps in strip clubs. This circus is basically like passing a law against travel by Star Trek Transporter --- you can't do it anyway.

 

[ClosedCaption]

Remember, the governor only signs laws AFTER being passed by the state legislature. If they drag their feet, it's not the governor's fault.

Seems like a lot of people didn't realize this, so I quoted it that they may be enlightened.

Just another in a long line of Republicans passing the buck

 

[Jarlaxle]

Except for those who realize EBT cards already couldn't be used for any of that shit...
They're exchangeable for food only, and not even for prepared food. You can't use it in a nail salon, a strip club or whatever else. You can't even use it in a bar, because it's prepared food. And you certainly couldn't buy alcohol with it even in a grocery store.

No, that's wrong. You could use the EBT cash for ANYTHING! Note: several places in this area ADVERTISE that you can pay for prepared foods (including pizza DELIVERY) with EBT. (I have gotten their junk mail.)

I dunno, there may be vendors breaking the law but the system isn't even set up to accept it that way. You run 3 cans of beans and a loaf of bread and a hot sandwich through the card reader and you'll have a balance due for the hot sandwich because EBT specifically does not apply -- let alone liquor and fingernails and strippers. In order to do any of that you'd have to masquerade the purchase as groceries.

Once more for the slow kid: you could use EBT cash for ANYTHING! (Up to and including BAIL!)

I suppose advertisers can claim all kinds of crap they don't have to deliver on but how would you get a pizza delivery via EBT? Phone the number in? That doesn't work either, and it's not like a pizza delivery boy has a wireless EBT card reader with him. I'm not even sure that exists. Possibly a "bake-at-home" unfinished pizza might qualify in a grey area but that's about as far as I can stretch the premise.

Off the top of my head: I have seen & used CC readers that plug into a Smartphone. I expect one could read an EBT card.

I've used EBTs so I assess this from experience. I suspect Bobby Brady and the Sleaziana masturbature is conducting a circus to score political points with those of the upper classes who have no experience with EBT and don't know any better. And the classes who do use it and do know better aren't gonna be his voters anyway, plus they have no voice to point this out.

Long story short - just because somebody advertises something doesn't mean it's either legal or honest.

Yeah, because SO MANY big chain stores put together promotions without contacting their legal department, right?

 

[Pogo]

No, that's wrong. You could use the EBT cash for ANYTHING! Note: several places in this area ADVERTISE that you can pay for prepared foods (including pizza DELIVERY) with EBT. (I have gotten their junk mail.)

I dunno, there may be vendors breaking the law but the system isn't even set up to accept it that way. You run 3 cans of beans and a loaf of bread and a hot sandwich through the card reader and you'll have a balance due for the hot sandwich because EBT specifically does not apply -- let alone liquor and fingernails and strippers. In order to do any of that you'd have to masquerade the purchase as groceries.

Once more for the slow kid: you could use EBT cash for ANYTHING! (Up to and including BAIL!)

No. You can't. You can't even use it on a salad bar.

 

[konradv]

Unenforceable window dressing, IMO. Food stamp money CAN'T be used for the items mentioned and EBT cash can be taken out at an ATM and used anywhere. More Republican "sound and fury, signifying nothing".

 

[Kondor3]

I dunno, there may be vendors breaking the law but the system isn't even set up to accept it that way. You run 3 cans of beans and a loaf of bread and a hot sandwich through the card reader and you'll have a balance due for the hot sandwich because EBT specifically does not apply -- let alone liquor and fingernails and strippers. In order to do any of that you'd have to masquerade the purchase as groceries.

Once more for the slow kid: you could use EBT cash for ANYTHING! (Up to and including BAIL!)

No. You can't. You can't even use it on a salad bar.

Depends on the State issuing the card, I think.

What is prohibited or allowed in Illinois will not be the same as we see in Louisiana, right?

Are there minimum Federal standards for this purpose?

 

[Jarlaxle]

Yes, you could, Pogo. You could use the card to get CASH at an ATM. You could (and people did) buy booze with it. You could charge BAIL money on it! (And someone was RECORDED doing so!)

 

[depotoo]

Post 28
http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDo... Reengrossedthe bill itselfEbt cards can also have welfare's, temporary assistance funds, et al, cash benefits loaded on them, not just snap funds. This bill is only to reinforce the rules the state had already set in place, and make it official law. It also now institutes as law punishment against the businesses themselves, that accept them for items not allowed.
Post 29
SB 417 Senate Bill - Bill AnalysisIt being used for cruises, et al, was a big enough problem in CA they passed a bill
@@@@@@@@@@@@
Not my fault you don't read.

Why won't Republican argue that this is just more big government control over people's personal lives?

What a false narrative. When my money is being used by welfare recipients I want to know they are using it on life essentials-not to go to strip clubs. .

Which anyone would know by simply reading the rules as listed in post 22 -- which is the way it's always been. There has NEVER been a time you could spend food stamps in strip clubs. This circus is basically like passing a law against travel by Star Trek Transporter --- you can't do it anyway.

 

[thereisnospoon]

Governor Jindal just signed a law that prohibits the use of EBT cards at:

Any establishment where persons under age 18 are not permitted

Any retail establishment that provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment purposes or adult bookstores or adult paraphernalia and any sexually oriented business

Any nail salon

Any tattoo, piercing, or commercial body art facility

Any jewelry storeAny amusement or video arcadeAny bail bonds companyAny nightclub, bar, tavern, or saloon

Any cruise ship and any psychic business

Awesome! Why can't the Feds do this? By King Barry's fiat?

Read more @ http://thehayride.com/2014/06/no-mo...dium=feed&utm_campaign=feed&utm_reader=feedly

They left out a prohibition on Casinos. Bad move.