The Governor of Kansas is expected to sign a bill that
affects how recipients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program can
spend their publicly provided funds.
Although most of the recipients abide by the boundaries of expected
purchases, such as for rent, food, and gas, there are some recipients who
purchase things such as tattoos, gambling and psychic services among many
examples. A republican senator
introduced the bill with the goal of making sure taxpayer money is being spent
productively and for the purpose which it was meant. There are also people who are frauds and find ways to
receive TANF money even though they are not in financial trouble. In 2013, Kansas estimated losing $7
million due to fraud. The bill
imposes a host of restrictions and requirements of how state benefits can be
used. A long list of banned
products can be found with the link to the article. I personally agree with the bill. In my opinion, taxpaying families shouldn’t have to give up
their income for someone who claims to need the money in order to survive but
then turns around and buys tattoos or a vacation on a cruise ship. Also, the bill will not affect or hurt
the people who actually spend their funds on necessities.
http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/07/news/kansas-welfare-limits/index.html?iid=HP_LN
5 comments:
I would agree with your statement that welfare and other types of funds handed out to support those in need should be regulated. It is ridiculous that there are individuals use welfare money for luxuries such as tattoos and cruise vacations. That is not what the money is to be used for. On the other hand that money could be going to people who are really in need and who would use that money appropriately.
This bill looks like it will attempt to curve this reckless use of welfare as well as cut down on frauds and some of the freeloaders who really do not need welfare.
I agree 100% with Conor. I personally feel as though welfare and other such programs should be regulated much better and have stricter rules. I also feel as though there should be drug tests and other such things for those on welfare.
I agree with all the previous comments. Welfare should be regulated as well as other programs I feel as though people abuse these programs because we do not regulate them as well as we should. If we add more regulation of these programs, we will have more success as a whole with people using these programs in the right manner.
I also agree with the previous comments. Welfare is in need of serious reform. The system needs stricter rules and policies, such as the bill in Kansas, so it does not continue to be abused.
This seems like a coercive incentive to get people to stop spending money in "irresponsible" ways. I myself don't really like coercive incentives for much of anything, but I can also see the point here. At the same time, I wonder what kind of systemic abuse we are talking about, because if someone is actively searching for a job and takes a mental health break to enjoy life probably enhances this process. And at the same time, if I was in their shoes and had already paid for my rent, food, etc., and had spent a good 40 hours looking for a job, I too would want to relax.
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