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.”
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That reference to the importance of encouraging welfare recipients to become independent once more and no longer be in need of government aid is key. The Founding Fathers opposed widespread and long-term welfare for good reason: because it necessitates higher taxes, government bloat, forcible property redistribution, and a system ripe for fraud and abuse. They were afraid of creating permanently dependent populations without actually helping people become contributing and thriving members of society again.
Notice that the TANF program has the word "temporary" in the title. The whole idea is that it is supposed to be a brief helping hand to assist profoundly impoverished families as they seek to get back on their feet and improve their situations. In fact, the TANF program came into being specifically as a way of promoting financial rehabilitation. It’s not supposed to be a long-term way of buying entertainment and luxuries.
The War on Poverty has been an utter failure, consuming trillions of dollars since 1965 without meaningfully budging the poverty line. Obviously our welfare system for the past half a century and more has been misguided and ineffectual. Reform is long overdue, and other states need to follow Florida’s example.
Editor's Note: President Trump is fighting to renew America this 250th birthday year.
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