Kansas could lose millions for limiting welfare recipients to $25 at ATMs

[KamaAina]

http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article21191358.html

A first-of-its-kind provision barring welfare recipients in Kansas from withdrawing more than $25 a day from an ATM might violate federal law and could jeopardize the state’s federal funding if not amended.

The Social Security Act requires states to ensure that recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families “have adequate access to their cash assistance” and can withdraw money “with minimal fees or charges.”

At stake is about $102 million in TANF block grant funds that Kansas receives every year from the federal government.

The state’s controversial ATM limit was added as an amendment to a welfare overhaul bill signed in April by Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican. The new law also bans welfare recipients from spending their benefit money at certain places, including movie theaters, massage parlors, cruise ships and swimming pools. And it sets stricter eligibility requirements and shortens the amount of time people can receive assistance.

[lonestarnot]

1. I do not see the humor here. Sorry.

The poorest of the poor are the ones suffering at this ignorance.

[KamaAina]

2. The humor is that Brownshirt's mean-spiritedness is backfiring on him

[lonestarnot]

4. But who suffers from that fuckers ignorance? Not fucking funny.

[djean111]

3. Does Brownback even care if Kansas does not get the block grants?

[vive la commune]

7. I doubt that he does.

I think he'd be happy to "starve the beast" and forgo the TANF funds altogether.

[Sunlei]

5. people who can least afford it pay the most fees! OPEN THE US POST OFFICE, NO FEE BANKS OBAMA!

[vive la commune]

6. I wouldn't be surprised

if this was by design, actually. After all, Republican governors and legislatures are rejecting Medicaid expansion in their states, despite the fact that they will be receiving federal funds. They prioritize their ideology over their states receiving any funding. I'm imagining Brownback would be happy for his state to *not* receive any TANF funding. I doubt he gives a shit if people starve.

[Lars39]

8. I think the object is to bankrupt states. Makes them easier to plunder.

[Aerows]

12. Last person in charge

gets dibs on doling out who gets the biggest share.

Look at Detroit. They sank that city. Now they intend to do a test run on sinking a state with a willing conspirator.

[Lars39]

14. Totally agree!

[gratuitous]

10. Yep, I'm in the "feature, not a bug" camp myself

If federal funds to Kansas are cut, Brownback and his legislative minions will gleefully cut and gut every last government agency and program that doesn't provide a direct, tangible benefit to them and theirs. They will then blame the homeless, starving, naked and imprisoned for their own misery just like Jesus would do.

I have a friend who I now only communicate with through Facebook who lives in Kansas. She seems totally in favor of the direction her state is going, and I just wonder how she justifies it in her own mind. I had to take her off all my feeds so I don't see anything from her anymore. She is convinced that Jesus is coming back soon, so alleviating the world's pain and suffering isn't a priority for her. On so many levels, it's sad and frustrating.

[hifiguy]

9. The last sane/intelligent person to leave Kansas

can turn out the lights. It won't be long now.

[Downwinder]

11. A 5% service charge on TANF is unreasonable.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

13. If the TANF block grant is withheld does the money come from the state or

do TANF recipients lose a corresponding amount of benefits?