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No more lap dances or slot machines, House tells welfare recipients
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STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Updated: Feb. 2, 2012 | 8:45 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- A House vote Wednesday could make it more difficult for people on welfare to get a lap dance or pull levers at the slot machines.
By a 395-27 vote, lawmakers passed a bill that would require states to block welfare debit cards from being used at casinos, strip clubs and liquor stores.
The bill aims to close what sponsors called a "strip club loophole" in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
A series of news investigations uncovered the problem, said Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La.
■ In Washington state, 13,000 people withdrew an estimated $2 million in welfare cash at casinos, a Seattle TV station reported early last year.
■ In 2010, California welfare recipients withdrew $1.8 billion from casino ATMs using their cards, state officials acknowledged to the Los Angeles Times.
"If someone is in need of assistance, what on earth are they doing getting cash in a casino?" said Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky. "It is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars and the taxpayers' trust."
The provision was put into a separate payroll tax bill in December, but that bill has been stalled. It was brought up separately on Wednesday for an election-year vote that drew broad bipartisan support.
All three Nevada House lawmakers voted for it over the objections of the state's gaming industry, which is vigilant for all legislation that affects casinos.
"While I am wary of placing additional burdens on the gaming industry -- the lifeblood of our economy -- we cannot tolerate taxpayer dollars being spent at strip clubs or liquor stores," said Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.
Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., said the bill was "common sense."
"We certainly do not want TANF welfare funds to be 'gambled,' and many of our member companies voluntarily work with state regulators to prevent this activity from happening," the American Gaming Association said in a statement.
"We are concerned, however, that the characterization of our industry in this bill potentially creates a dangerous precedent of trying to carve out one type of resort (casinos) from all other types of resorts."
The casinos also objected to being lumped with strip clubs and liquor stores. Those establishments "have a much more narrow scope of business," the gaming association said.
The bill would order states to comply within two years or risk losing 5 percent of their federal welfare grants.
Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said that while he had reservations about how the bill would be carried out, "I think Nevada can do its part to help ensure that this assistance is used as it was intended."
"It should be noted that casinos offer many forms of entertainment beyond gaming, but I think that we can all agree that the TANF program should not be used to pay for entertainment," Amodei said.
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You mean to tell me 'poor people' are engaged in welfare fraud?...What a shocker!...I thought they were just barely getting by...I got an idea; instead of blocking the debit cards at casinos and strip clubs - how about they get no card at all?....Thats right...stop all government assistance to any and all able bodied Americans and make 'em do something really crazy like...WORK!...Sorry, I know what a scary proposition that is for you liberal - leeches!
with out the welfare checks Vegas casinos and strip joints will bankrupt, so will brothels and Vegas will be in another recession.
II don't gamble. I don't drink. I don't smoke. Sometimes I go to Casinos to eat their buffets (I am a cheapskate?) So, I want to see what kind people use casinos' ATM machines. I use cash wherever I go. Not too many use ATM often. One visible was a man who was on a wheel chair. Being nosy, I asked who brought him here. He said, "My daughter works here and she brings me when I have money. I wait her until she finish her work." I went out to see how street beggers are doing. Smart ones sit and beg. New ones, stand and beg. I don't know they are welfare recipient, but I don't think they go to see strip shows, especially women.
One of the reasons debt for each American is $ 50k. Obama racked up $15k debt in 3yrs for each one of us. Chinese & the world used to smile at us, then started giggling now the whole world is laughing at us. it`s his fault.
Amazing, I have to pay for all of my own necessities, medical, food, etc. and I have to pay for the welfare bums to. Now as far as I am concerened there is suppose to be a five-year limit on welfare but it certainly isn't working that way. How about we put the five-year limit on them and when it is up no more housing, foodstamps, cash, taxi and bus script, medical, and utilities. Sorrry welfare folks you can now live in a tent and get your food any way you can. Guess you will just have to sell more drugs, more prostitution, more stealing and robbing, and I guess we will just have to build more prisions and listen to more of the same old thing we are racial. OH MY???????
Botox Pelosi dirty Harry & the D-rats says welfare checks used for all sins dope and gambling are good for the economy.
@oh_my...While I'm no fan of government aid, I am even less of a fan of using lies to support an agenda. So, before you post such a blatant falsehood, you should know that the average family on welfare has less that three children, less the average family no receiving assistance. Also, less than 10% of the families on assistance have more than four kids.
@oh_my... I'm guessing, that had you studied during math and biology you would have a job and then wouldn't have a need to hang out at the WIC office begging for public funds. You would also understand how the math and biology make it nearly impossible for a woman to have 14-16 children on welfare.
Those mean republicans just want to take the cold beer, hot women and stack of casino chips away from me that Obama gave me for voting for him... Can I get a 4 More Years and a amen brother...
What? I never even knew any of this was even possible. Of course I've never been on welfare either, I've been too dam busy working and paying my taxes to support these people and the federal government to insure they have a great medical insurance and retirement package.