Florida is reforming a welfare program for needy families, banning taxpayer-funded purchases of such leisure activities as gambling, harmful non-essentials like tobacco and tattoos, and immoral activities such as “adult content.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) announced on August 24 an amendment to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) State Plan in order to ensure recipients cannot use the taxpayer-funded benefits for buying “inappropriate, luxury and non-essential items.” It’s an important move to prevent fraudsters from funding their pleasures and vices with TANF rather than using it for necessities.
Democrats and some irresponsible Republicans have encouraged welfare recipients to believe for many years now that they are owed other people’s money, even on a generational basis, and that any restrictions on how they spend that confiscated wealth are infringements of their rights. Thus when the Trump administration began trying to limit food stamp eligible products, countless individuals, many obese, took to social media to scream in fury that they had a right to buy Twinkies and root beer on other people’s dime.
In contrast, DeSantis explained, “TANF provides taxpayer-funded Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) through an EBT card, which cannot be used to purchase alcohol, gamble, or spend money at adult entertainment establishments.”
The governor added that he has directed the Florida Department of Children and Families “to amend Florida’s TANF State Plan so that these benefits cannot also be used for tobacco, vaping products, adult content, video games, theme park tickets, tattoos, spa services, tanning, or psychic readings. Taxpayer-funded assistance should help families put food on the table, keep the lights on, purchase clothing, provide for their children and overcome barriers on the path toward independence.”
Hellbound and Down 