Assemblyman David DiPietro (R,C – East Aurora), a vocal supporter of welfare reform in New York State, took offense at the inaction of Assembly Majority leaders regarding a federal deadline to keep welfare dollars out of strip clubs and prevent the funds from being used to purchase alcohol and cigarettes.

“We are starting to see a familiar pattern with how the elites in Albany handle business,” DiPietro said. “They have no regard for deadlines or the average citizen. Instead of ensuring the integrity of public assistance programs by implementing the Public Assistance Integrity Act, they’ve elected to put the entire system in jeopardy by ignoring a federal deadline. New York had until last Saturday, February 22, to pass legislation stopping welfare dollars from being used for vices like gambling, cigarettes, alcohol or adult entertainment; failure to do so would result in our state losing $120 million in federal aid. The State Senate acted but the Assembly Majority did not. New Yorkers in need deserve better.”

Assemblyman DiPietro is a co-sponsor of the Public Assistance Integrity Act, which would bring New York up to federal standards. DiPietro is also the author of bills that would implement a one-year residency requirement for Medicaid (A.5901) and establish drug testing as a pre-qualification for receiving welfare assistance (A.6146).