The best way to cure poverty is make it illegal, says Minnesota Republicans. - Polidicks

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;28701973]And buying things like car parts [editline]19th March 2011[/editline] Or home repair [editline]19th March 2011[/editline] Or anything from a friend or Craigslist.[/QUOTE] Or you could be using it to buy shit like food and necessities. You don't even know what they mean by this. You're simply acting like these lawmakers are outlawing being poor, which is NOT what's happening. Also, I don't understand this: [quote=dumbshit article]even though poor people by design are kept from having bank accounts or a checkbook[/quote] How are they kept from having a bank account? I truly do not get what they mean by this.

[QUOTE=ExplodingGuy;28701901]Fun fact: Laws such as this have been around for a while, with a myriad of variations, of course. It is a blog. So are all of those. The star tribune one has nothing to do with the topic at hand.[/QUOTE] Forbes is not a blog.

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;28702009]They've somehow fucked Alabama up even more, does that count?[/QUOTE] Has it happened since the 2010 elections?

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;28702062]Forbes is not a blog.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://%3Cb%3Eblogs%3C/b%3E"][B]blogs[/B][/URL].forbes.com/erikkain/2011]...

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;28702047]Or you could be using it to buy shit like food and necessities. You don't even know what they mean by this. You're simply acting like these lawmakers are outlawing being poor, which is NOT what's happening. Also, I don't understand this: How are they kept from having a bank account? I truly do not get what they mean by this.[/QUOTE] [quote]St. Paul, MN – Minnesota Republicans are pushing legislation that would make it [b]a crime for people on public assistance to have more $20 in cash in their pockets any given month.[/b] This represents a change from their initial proposal, which banned them from having any money at all.[/quote] [quote]House File 171 would make it so that families on MFIP – and disabled single adults on General Assistance and Minnesota Supplemental Aid – could not have their cash grants in cash or put into a checking account. [/quote] Also, you have to have a minimum amount of cash in your bank account at all times, plus you have to have a certain sum of money to even open one. [editline]19th March 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Megafanx13;28702078]Has it happened since the 2010 elections?[/QUOTE] We elected a dermatologist as the leader of the state. So, yes.

This is an incentive to get the fuck off welfare, an incentive that has been needed for decades.

You've no clue what it's like to be poor, do you?

Woah, is the year 2011 when all the Republicans bleed from their vaginas and lose all their brain cells?

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;28702119]How's this for a source? [url]https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0171.1.html&session=ls87[/url] [editline]19th March 2011[/editline] You have no idea what it's like to be poor, do you?[/QUOTE] Do you have any idea what it's like to pay taxes?

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;28702156]Do you have any idea what it's like to pay taxes?[/QUOTE] I do. I'm a college student working full time minimum wage so I have enough gas money to drive forty miles a day to get to class. Do [i]YOU[/i], sir, have any idea what it's like to pay taxes? Or are you sitting comfortably at home, listening to your parents bitch about taxes?

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;28702119]How's this for a source? [URL="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0171.1.html&session=ls87"]https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbi...l&session=ls87[/URL][/QUOTE] All that says is that you must use your EBT card to make approved purchases

too bad this is true

[QUOTE=ExplodingGuy;28702193]All that says is that you must use your EBT card to make approved purchases[/QUOTE] Way to read the first paragraph and nothing else.

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;28702210]Way to read the first paragraph and nothing else.[/QUOTE] That's funny because you apparently didn't read it at all. [quote]A bill for an act 1.2relating to human services; modifying MFIP electronic benefit transfers; 1.3requiring photo identification; changing residency requirements for general 1.4assistance, general assistance medical care, and MFIP;amending Minnesota 1.5Statutes 2010, sections 256D.02, subdivision 12a; 256J.12, subdivisions 1a, 2; 1.6proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256; repealing 1.7Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256.9862, subdivision 2. 1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.9 Section 1. [U][B][256.9870] ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER DEBIT CARD.[/B][/U] 1.10 [U]Subdivision 1.[/U] [U][B]Electronic benefit transfer or EBT debit card.[/B][/U] [U](a) Electronic [/U] 1.11[U]benefit transfer (EBT) debit cardholders in the general assistance program and the [/U] 1.12[U]Minnesota supplemental aid program under chapter 256D and programs under chapter [/U] 1.13[U]256J are prohibited from withdrawing cash from an automatic teller machine or receiving [/U] 1.14[U]cash from vendors with the EBT debit card. The EBT debit card may only be used as a [/U] 1.15[U]debit card.[/U] 1.16[U](b) Beginning July 1, 2011, cash benefits for programs listed under paragraph (a) [/U] 1.17[U]must be issued on a separate EBT card with the head of household's name printed on the [/U] 1.18[U]card. The card must also state that "It is unlawful to use this card to purchase tobacco [/U] 1.19[U]products or alcoholic beverages." This card must be issued within 30 calendar days of [/U] 1.20[U]an eligibility determination. During the initial 30 calendar days of eligibility, a recipient [/U] 1.21[U]may have cash benefits issued on an EBT card without the recipient's name printed on the [/U] 1.22[U]card. This card may be the same card on which food support is issued and does not need [/U] 1.23[U]to meet the requirements of this section.[/U] 2.1[U](c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), EBT cardholders may opt to have up to $20 [/U] 2.2[U]per month accessible via automatic teller machine or receive up to $20 cash back from [/U] 2.3[U]a vendor.[/U] 2.4 [U]Subd. 2.[/U] [U][B]Photo identification.[/B][/U] [U]Retailers at a point-of-sale may request a photo [/U] 2.5[U]identification card when an EBT card is presented for payment. It is unlawful for an EBT [/U] 2.6[U]cardholder to allow another person to use the cardholder's card.[/U] 2.7 [U]Subd. 3.[/U] [U][B]Prohibited purchases.[/B][/U] [U]EBT debit cardholders in programs under [/U] 2.8[U]subdivision 1 are prohibited from using the EBT debit card to purchase tobacco products [/U] 2.9[U]and alcoholic beverages, as defined in section 340A.101, subdivision 2. It is unlawful for [/U] 2.10[U]an EBT cardholder to purchase or attempt to purchase tobacco products or alcoholic [/U] 2.11[U]beverages with the cardholder's EBT card.[/U] 2.12 [U]Subd. 4.[/U] [U][B]EBT use restricted to Minnesota vendors.[/B][/U] [U]EBT debit cardholders in [/U] 2.13[U]programs under subdivision 1 are prohibited from using the EBT debit card at vendors [/U] 2.14[U]located outside of Minnesota. This subdivision does not apply to the food portion.[/U] 2.15 [U]Subd. 5.[/U] [U][B]Fraud reports.[/B][/U] [U]Retailers who report to the commissioner substantiated [/U] 2.16[U]incidents of EBT card fraud shall receive five percent of any recovered funds.[/U] 2.17 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256D.02, subdivision 12a, is amended to read: 2.18 Subd. 12a. [B]Resident.[/B] (a) For purposes of eligibility for general assistance and 2.19general assistance medical care, a person must be a resident of this state. 2.20(b) A "resident" is a person living in the state for at least 30[U] 90 [/U] days with the 2.21intention of making the person's home here and not for any temporary purpose. Time 2.22spent in a shelter for battered women shall count toward satisfying the 30-day[U] 90-day[/U] 2.23residency requirement. All applicants for these programs are required to demonstrate the 2.24requisite intent and can do so in any of the following ways: 2.25(1) by showing that the applicant maintains a residence at a verified address, other 2.26than a place of public accommodation. An applicant may verify a residence address by 2.27presenting a valid state driver's license, a state identification card, a voter registration card, 2.28a rent receipt, a statement by the landlord, apartment manager, or homeowner verifying 2.29that the individual is residing at the address, or other form of verification approved by 2.30the commissioner; or 2.31(2) by verifying residence according to Minnesota Rules, part 9500.1219, subpart 2.323, item C. 2.33(c) For general assistance medical care, a county agency shall waive the 30-day 2.34[U] 90-day [/U]residency requirement in cases of medical emergencies. For general assistance, 2.35a county shall waive the 30-day[U] 90-day[/U] residency requirement where unusual hardship 3.1would result from denial of general assistance. For purposes of this subdivision, "unusual 3.2hardship" means the applicant is without shelter or is without available resources for food. 3.3The county agency must report to the commissioner within 30 days on any waiver 3.4granted under this section. The county shall not deny an application solely because the 3.5applicant does not meet at least one of the criteria in this subdivision, but shall continue to 3.6process the application and leave the application pending until the residency requirement 3.7is met or until eligibility or ineligibility is established. 3.8(d) For purposes of paragraph (c), the following definitions apply (1) "metropolitan 3.9statistical area" is as defined by the United States Census Bureau; (2) "shelter" includes 3.10any shelter that is located within the metropolitan statistical area containing the county 3.11and for which the applicant is eligible, provided the applicant does not have to travel more 3.12than 20 miles to reach the shelter and has access to transportation to the shelter. Clause (2) 3.13does not apply to counties in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan statistical area. 3.14(e) Migrant workers as defined in section 256J.08 and, until March 31, 1998, their 3.15immediate families are exempt from the residency requirements of this section, provided 3.16the migrant worker provides verification that the migrant family worked in this state 3.17within the last 12 months and earned at least $1,000 in gross wages during the time the 3.18migrant worker worked in this state. 3.19(f) For purposes of eligibility for emergency general assistance, the 30-day[U] 90-day[/U] 3.20residency requirement under this section shall not be waived. 3.21(g) If any provision of this subdivision is enjoined from implementation or found 3.22unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall 3.23remain valid and shall be given full effect. 3.24 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256J.12, subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 3.25 Subd. 1a. [B]30-day[/B][U][B]90-day [/B][/U][B]residency requirement.[/B] An assistance unit is considered 3.26to have established residency in this state only when a child or caregiver has resided in this 3.27state for at least 30 [U]90 [/U]consecutive days with the intention of making the person's home 3.28here and not for any temporary purpose. The birth of a child in Minnesota to a member 3.29of the assistance unit does not automatically establish the residency in this state under 3.30this subdivision of the other members of the assistance unit. Time spent in a shelter for 3.31battered women shall count toward satisfying the 30-day[U] 90-day[/U] residency requirement. 3.32 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256J.12, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 3.33 Subd. 2. [B]Exceptions.[/B] (a) A county shall waive the 30-day[U] 90-day[/U] residency 3.34requirement where unusual hardship would result from denial of assistance. 4.1(b) For purposes of this section, unusual hardship means an assistance unit: 4.2(1) is without alternative shelter; or 4.3(2) is without available resources for food. 4.4(c) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions apply (1) "metropolitan 4.5statistical area" is as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau; (2) "alternative shelter" includes 4.6any shelter that is located within the metropolitan statistical area containing the county and 4.7for which the family is eligible, provided the assistance unit does not have to travel more 4.8than 20 miles to reach the shelter and has access to transportation to the shelter. Clause (2) 4.9does not apply to counties in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan statistical area. 4.10(d) Applicants are considered to meet the residency requirement under subdivision 4.111a if they once resided in Minnesota and: 4.12(1) joined the United States armed services, returned to Minnesota within 30 days of 4.13leaving the armed services, and intend to remain in Minnesota; or 4.14(2) left to attend school in another state, paid nonresident tuition or Minnesota 4.15tuition rates under a reciprocity agreement, and returned to Minnesota within 30 days of 4.16graduation with the intent to remain in Minnesota. 4.17(e) The 30-day[U] 90-day[/U] residence requirement is met when: 4.18(1) a minor child or a minor caregiver moves from another state to the residence of 4.19a relative caregiver; and 4.20(2) the relative caregiver has resided in Minnesota for at least 30[U] 90[/U] consecutive 4.21days and: 4.22(i) the minor caregiver applies for and receives MFIP; or 4.23(ii) the relative caregiver applies for assistance for the minor child but does not 4.24choose to be a member of the MFIP assistance unit. 4.25 Sec. 5. [U][B]REQUIREMENT FOR LIQUOR STORES, TOBACCO STORES, [/B][/U] 4.26[U][B]GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS, AND TATTOO PARLORS.[/B][/U] 4.27[U]Liquor stores, tobacco stores, gambling establishments, and tattoo parlors must [/U] 4.28[U]negotiate with their third-party processors to block EBT cash transactions at their places [/U] 4.29[U]of business and withdrawals of cash at automatic teller machines located in their places of [/U] 4.30[U]business.[/U] 4.31 Sec. 6. [U][B]MINNESOTA EBT BUSINESS TASK FORCE.[/B][/U] 4.32 [U]Subdivision 1.[/U] [U][B]Members.[/B][/U] [U]The Minnesota EBT Business Task Force includes seven [/U] 4.33[U]members, appointed as follows:[/U] 5.1[U](1) two members of the Minnesota house of representatives, one appointed by the [/U] 5.2[U]speaker of the house and one appointed by the minority leader;[/U] 5.3[U](2) two members of the Minnesota senate, one appointed by the senate majority [/U] 5.4[U]leader and one appointed by the senate minority leader;[/U] 5.5[U](3) the commissioner of human services, or designee;[/U] 5.6[U](4) an appointee of the Minnesota Grocers Association; and[/U] 5.7[U](5) a credit card processor, appointed by the commissioner of human services.[/U] 5.8 [U]Subd. 2.[/U] [U][B]Duties.[/B][/U] [U]The Minnesota EBT Business Task Force shall create a workable [/U] 5.9[U]strategy to eliminate the purchase of tobacco and alcoholic beverages by recipients of the [/U] 5.10[U]general assistance program and Minnesota supplemental aid program under Minnesota [/U] 5.11[U]Statutes, chapter 256D, and programs under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J, using EBT [/U] 5.12[U]cards. The task force will consider cost to the state, feasibility of execution at retail, and [/U] 5.13[U]ease of use and privacy for EBT cardholders.[/U] 5.14 [U]Subd. 3.[/U] [U][B]Report.[/B][/U] [U]The task force will report back to the legislative committees with [/U] 5.15[U]jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance by April 1, 2012, with [/U] 5.16[U]recommendations related to the task force duties under subdivision 2.[/U] 5.17 [U]Subd. 4.[/U] [U][B]Expiration.[/B][/U] [U]The task force expires on June 30, 2012.[/U] 5.18 Sec. 7. [U][B]DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER.[/B][/U] 5.19[U]The commissioner of human services shall issue a request for proposals for a [/U] 5.20[U]third-party credit card processor who will prohibit the ability of EBT cards to be used to [/U] 5.21[U]purchase tobacco products or alcoholic beverages. Based on responses to the request [/U] 5.22[U]for proposals, the commissioner shall enter into a contract for the services specified in [/U] 5.23[U]this section by October 1, 2011.[/U] 5.24[U][B]EFFECTIVE DATE.[/B][/U][U]This section is effective the day following final enactment.[/U] 5.25 Sec. 8. [U][B] REPEALER.[/B][/U] 5.26[U]Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256.9862, subdivision 2,[/U][U] is repealed.[/U][/quote]Find me where it says you can't carry over twenty dollars in you pocket. You have this: [quote][U](c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), EBT cardholders may opt to have up to $20 [/U] 2.2[U]per month accessible via automatic teller machine or receive up to $20 cash back from [/U] 2.3[U]a vendor[/quote] [/U]But that is just about an optional twenty dollars cash allowable from your welfare account.

The best way to deal with Republicans is to shoot them before they can pass legislation that hurts millions more people.

[QUOTE=ExplodingGuy;28702249]That's funny because you apparently didn't read it at all. [/U]Find me where it says you can't carry over twenty dollars in you pocket.[/QUOTE] [quote]2.1(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), EBT cardholders may opt to have up to $20 [/quote] :downs:

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;28702189]I do. I'm a college student working full time minimum wage so I have enough gas money to drive forty miles a day to get to class. Do [i]YOU[/i], sir, have any idea what it's like to pay taxes? Or are you sitting comfortably at home, listening to your parents bitch about taxes?[/QUOTE] Nope. I work 2 jobs, and until recently, I walked to both of them no matter what the weather, and I live in Minnesota. Don't sit there and act like Welfare isn't abused. I know that there are people that need help, I'm not disputing that, but there needs to be an incentive to [B]get off welfare.[/B] Welfare is to help get you on your feet. It's not supposed to just be free money that you can ride on as long as you meet the requirements. That's the point these lawmakers are trying to address. It's a real issue.

It'd be nice if it were easier to track welfare money but this is not it. A welfare checkbook maybe? Making it illegal to withdraw [b]excessive amounts of[/b] cash sounds like a good idea, alongside a checkbook that people could actually use, I guess.

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;28701905]How are you taking this as "Making is illegal to be poor"? You all are just overreacting like always. They're saying that any aid like welfare [B]can't be in cash,[/B] which I completely agree with. This means it can take other forms. It's just like Food stamps. It's so you can't just get on welfare and use your welfare money for bullshit things you don't need.[/QUOTE] Because food stamps can obviously pay utility bills or rent.

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;28702297]Nope. I work 2 jobs, and until recently, I walked to both of them no matter what the weather, and I live in Minnesota. Don't sit there and act like Welfare isn't abused. I know that there are people that need help, I'm not disputing that, but there needs to be an incentive to [B]get off welfare.[/B] Welfare is to help get you off your feet. It's not supposed to just be free money that you can ride on as long as you meet the requirements. That's the point these lawmakers are trying to address. It's a real issue.[/QUOTE] So to get the few people who are abusing the system off of welfare, we're going to ruin for everyone? Fuck that.

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;28702295]:downs:[/QUOTE] Great reading comprehension there, all it says is that you can deduct twenty dollars from your welfare account to have pocket cash. You still can carry other money not taken out from your welfare account.

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;28702297]Nope. I work 2 jobs, and until recently, I walked to both of them no matter what the weather, and I live in Minnesota. Don't sit there and act like Welfare isn't abused. I know that there are people that need help, I'm not disputing that, but there needs to be an incentive to [B]get off welfare.[/B] Welfare is to help get you off your feet. It's not supposed to just be free money that you can ride on as long as you meet the requirements. That's the point these lawmakers are trying to address. It's a real issue.[/QUOTE] Yes, let's address the issue of people be systematically denied jobs by making it so it's neigh impossible for them to get the aid in any spendable form.

And ruin it for those receiving disability benefits? [editline]19th March 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=ExplodingGuy;28702311]Great reading comprehension there, all it says is that you can deduct twenty dollars from your welfare account to have pocket cash. You still can carry other money not taken out from your welfare account.[/QUOTE] I'm sorry, I forgot every poor person has a job and extra money to spend. That twenty bucks sure is fuckin' generous.

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;28702309]So to get the few people who are abusing the system off of welfare, we're going to ruin for everyone? Fuck that.[/QUOTE] The few people? It's not like there are 2. Shit adds up.

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;28702326]I'm sorry, I forgot every poor person has a job and extra money to spend. That twenty bucks sure is fuckin' generous.[/QUOTE] It's funny how you completely avoid the point of this file. This is to avoid excessive withdraws and to make sure the money is to spend on what it's supposed to be spent on (Food, clothing, other essentals.).

ITT: People completely misread the article and jump to wild assumptions.

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;28702297]Nope. I work 2 jobs, and until recently, I walked to both of them no matter what the weather, and I live in Minnesota. Don't sit there and act like Welfare isn't abused. I know that there are people that need help, I'm not disputing that, but there needs to be an incentive to [B]get off welfare.[/B] Welfare is to help get you on your feet. It's not supposed to just be free money that you can ride on as long as you meet the requirements. That's the point these lawmakers are trying to address. It's a real issue.[/QUOTE] If you are working two jobs and skill can't make more money than people on welfare then you are doing it wrong. "it" meaning pretty much everything. If you serious don't have enough cash, then apply for food stamps. It will free up some of your income.

Say what you want this is a decsion that needs to be made, I currently live in Minnesota and the budget is out of control. We have no more money, and you don't seem to realize that it's either this or schooling, or healthcare/police/fire services. and by no money, we literally have no more fucking money, we can't keep lending, and we're shit out of luck, we're done, zip. out of fucking money.

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;28702357]The few people? It's not like there are 2. Shit adds up.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/piechart_2010_MN_statelocal[/url] It can't be adding up that much.

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;28702357]The few people? It's not like there are 2. Shit adds up.[/QUOTE] Rather than making it so people on welfare can't get their benefits which they need in any spendable form, why can't we step up the investigative process to make sure people don't abuse it?