It's Free, Swipe Your EBT! At Casinos, Liquor Stores And Smoke Shops | The Natural Truth

From the "Work Is For Suckers" File…
PROVIDENCE, R.I., (WPRI) – Thousands of dollars in cash assistance were withdrawn from ATMs in liquor stores, bars, smoke shops and even Twin River casino in Dec. 2012, according to welfare data obtained by Target 12…

Target 12 found 200 transactions worth approximately $10,000 from venues that will likely be prohibited from accepting EBT cards, including more than $4,000 in ATM withdrawals from liquor stores, nearly $5,000 from smoke shops and a $106 charge at Twin River in Lincoln, according to December figures.

EBT money withdrawn at liquor stores, casino
But what's the big deal, right?  The people using your money to buy booze and play slots are just like, well, you:
 Elizabeth Lower-Basch, a policy coordinator at the Washington D.C.-based Center for Law and Social Policy, said that depending on how states implement the federal restrictions, they may end up spending more on enforcement than the cash assistance recipients spend at questionable retailers.

“Sure, do low-income people buy some things that aren’t ideal? Yes, so do the rest of us,” Lower-Basch told WPRI.com. “It’s how much money do you want to spend on these intrusions?
Hey, they're just doing what YOU do. Why, they're even using your money to do it!

 So stop trying to put limits on EBT use, you hypocritical haters!
As a Bay State resident, it's flattering to have Rhode Island holding us up as an example for reform:
State Senator David Bates, R-Barrington, has introduced legislation that would ban the purchase of alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets or tobacco with EBT cards. Bates said he modeled his bill after similar legislation that was passed in Massachusetts.

“Cash assistance programs are wonderful for the people that are really in need of it, but for people who want a gallon of ice cream and a filet mignon every night, that‘s not right,” Bates told WPRI.com.
Too bad that Massachusetts still lets you use the EBT to buy bling and tats on a vacation to the Caribbean…
And then there's this from MA state rep Ryan Fattman:

 In 2011, former Health and Human Services Secretary JudyAnn Bigby identified $93 million in health services expenses for individuals "who have not provided documentation of qualified status." Last year, she identified $178 million in health benefits to "persons who have not provided documentation," or whose status is "not available." In short, Massachusetts leaders don't know who is using our healthcare services to the tune of millions of dollars.
If Rhode Island is truly looking to Massachusetts as an example of good government, fiscal responsibility and reform, all I can say is…YIKES!