Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is calling on his legislative colleagues to pass the Public Assistance Integrity Act (A. 2386). The bill, which Blankenbush sponsors, would prohibit cash from public assistance programs being spent or obtained at ATMs in adult entertainment establishments, casinos and liquor stores. The federal government has set a deadline for states to pass reform legislation by February 2014 in order to avoid a 5 percent penalty on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, which in New York state would amount to $125 million.

“The misuse of public assistance dollars on alcohol, gambling and other nefarious activities is draining the welfare system and must be stopped to protect taxpayers and families who need help the most,” said Blankenbush. “The Public Assistance Integrity Act must be passed into law to save $125 million in federal funding. Reforming welfare is smart fiscally and the right thing to do morally to keep the program solvent for those who are trying to feed their families and get back on their feet.”

Reports have shown that, across both New York and the entire nation, there is a rampant problem of cash assistance being spent on items such as alcohol, cigarettes, lottery tickets, strippers and gambling. The cash is easily accessible through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards at ATMs. This legislation will require more oversight on cash withdrawals from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

”The immediate passage of the Public Assistance Integrity Act should be one of the top priorities in the coming 2014 legislative session,” Blankenbush said. “This is just one of many welfare reforms that must be examined to prevent further fraud and waste.”

A petition supporting the Public Assistance Integrity Act is available online at bit.ly/publicassistance.