Posted: | February 4, 2013 03:25 PM |
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From: | Representative Mike Reese |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Strengthening Cash Assistance |
In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation that would amend the Public Welfare Code to strengthen the public assistance system in Pennsylvania. Specifically, my bill would prohibit recipients of cash assistance from receiving cash through automated teller machines. Cash assistance benefits would only be provided at point-of-sale terminals when a recipient makes a legitimate purchase. The bill further limits purchases that can be made with cash assistance benefits and prohibits cash assistance benefits to be used to purchase tobacco products, beverages with alcoholic content, or lottery tickets or tickets for games of chance. It has become apparent in recent years that there are too many leaks in the taxpayer dam with regard to public assistance benefits. With each passing day, more and more taxpayer dollars are being lost due to fraud and abuse. Every dollar wasted is a dollar that is not available to the families who truly need assistance. Now, more than ever, we must be vigilant in how we are using taxpayer dollars and ensuring these funds are directed to those who rightfully need assistance. During the 2011-2012 legislative session, this bill was introduced as House Bill 800. The following members served as co-sponsors: EVANKOVICH, KRIEGER, DUNBAR, TURZAI, ADOLPH, AUMENT, BENNINGHOFF, BOYD, CAUSER, CHRISTIANA, CLYMER, D. COSTA, COX, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DALEY, DAVIS, DAY, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, ELLIS, FARRY, FLECK, GABLER, GEIST, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HAHN, HALUSKA, HARRIS, HEFFLEY, HELM, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, KNOWLES, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MARSHALL, MARSICO, METCALFE, METZGAR, MILLER, MILNE, MOUL, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PEIFER, PETRARCA, PYLE, QUIGLEY, RAPP, REED, ROAE, ROCK, SACCONE, SAYLOR, CULVER, SIMMONS, SONNEY, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TOOHIL, TRUITT, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND PERRY |
Introduced as HB903