(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Edward Hennessey (D-Medford) announced today that he supports the Governor’s budget proposal to prohibit the withdrawing of public assistance benefits funds from ATM’s (Automatic Teller Machines) located in casinos, liquor stores or adult entertainment facilities. This is an issue that Hennessey has long supported and sponsored in the Assembly (A.5135).
“This common-sense legislation would protect hardworking taxpayers from abuse while ensuring that individuals receiving public assistance continue to get the temporary help they need until they can get back on their feet,” Assemblyman Hennessey said.
Public assistance benefits are often distributed to families through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Cards. And some of the specially designated ATMs that recipients can use are located in casinos, liquor stores and even strip clubs. Currently, no state law protects public assistance cash benefits from either being misused to purchase liquor or lottery tickets or being withdrawn from ATMs at locations such as liquor stores, casinos or adult entertainment facilities.
Hennessey noted that if the state doesn’t stop this welfare abuse it could lose $120 million in federal funding because of the federal Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, which requires states to prohibit certain welfare spending by 2014.
