In an email sent out to supporters, State Senator James Seward has co-sponsored sweeping legislation to cut down on welfare fraud in New York State. According to the email, a similar bill has already passed the State Senate three times, while not coming to a vote in the Assembly.
That's why I co-sponsored "The Public Assistance Integrity Act", passed by the senate today. This will crack down on those who use their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards on items like cigarettes, beer, and lottery tickets. The bill would also stop ATM withdrawals at liquor stores, casinos, and strip clubs.
Seward says that New York needs to act soon or it could lose $122 million in federal aid. More information on the bill can be found here on his website.
The good Senator should sponsor a bill to prevent the fraudulent use of public funds to enrich developers and corporate interests. A model for such abuse is right in his district - Maranatha. Millions in grants, low interest loans, tax abatements, etc. squandered with no accountability. All the taxpayers have to show for it is an enormous dark, empty Morton building. Of course, Senator Seward would not support such a bill because he was the primary political sponsor for Maranatha and a big fan of subsidies for business. Instead, he will posture and pander by sponsoring a bill to address welfare recipients spending money on cigarettes and strip clubs, a problem that study after study says is so small as to be statistically non-existent. Senator Seward is about as good for his constituents as a vacant $5 million health club.
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