Calif. Bans Welfare Cards At Strip Clubs

(CBS 5/AP)  The California Department of Social Services is in the process of deactivating state-issued debit cards in strip clubs following a report that welfare recipients used their cards to withdraw cash at the clubs.

The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that more than $12,000 from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program was dispensed from 2007 to 2009 at several adult clubs, according to the department.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered the department to remove the clubs from the official list of businesses where welfare recipients can withdraw benefits using the state-issued cards.

Last week Schwarzenegger also barred welfare cards at casino ATMs following a Times report that CalWORKS cards were used to withdraw cash in more than half the casinos in the state.

© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report

[winslowe1]

Geez, one cannot do much at a strip club without cash.

[chattyone09]

These are probably their monthly cash awards, given via debit card rather than issuing checks. RE "the official list of businesses where welfare recipients can withdraw benefits." Ya think these kinds of establishments should be removed??? No kidding! I wonder who approved the list in the first place. Our government seems to be incapable of regulating or oversight in the most obvious areas. When and how will we force government to do what they are supposed to do correctly? In the meantime, let's not trust them with more.

[cdegolier]

Welfare cards should in no way be used to withdraw cash ever. They should simply be used at grocery stores for food purchases only.

[bradkt1]

Absolutely. The problem with these types of cards is that there are no spending controls over the actual money once you get it. It doesn't matter whether you withdraw the money from a casino, a strip club or a bank. Where you get the money from isn't the issue. How you spend it is the issue.

[mtcolquitt]

It's hard to feel sorry for folks in Calf. when they constantly kick theirselves in the gut with outlandish stupidity. These cards should ONLY work at grocery stores for Food for Human Consumption.
Not strip clubs, Not beer, Not lottery tickets, etc.

[tuathadedannan]

nazi right wingers again oppressing the poor. How will the underprivileged get to see tatas now.

[cdegolier]

Yeah, such oppression. Republicans simply want people to take responsibility for themselves, welfare is suppose to be used to get a hand up not a lifetime hand out. Get off you arse and support yourselves. Eventually you will run out of other people's money to live off of.

[pragmatist1]

And to think, there are many who are convinced that only fraud and corruption exist on Wall St. Laughable. Nothing like encouraging this type of behavior when the recipient isn't held accountable or responsible for doing the right thing, like not being on welfare.

[AtLasOn1Kl733]

Well, when the Welfare program start receiving certain programs cuts we'll understand why and we will not complain. They get what they ask for and if they want to spend it on sex, drugs and rock & roll by all means they'll be the first on the list to be on the chopping block. When they start crying because of lack of funding hand them a paper cup so they can save their tears and drink it to keep themselves from dehydrating.

[run2jazz2]

Someone has lost their mind! You have money to pay for a strip club with welfare funds, but your family is home starving! Just when you think things are bad they get worst! What is wrong with these folks? Then when you cut them off they argue "You are taking food from my families mouth!"

[6591Hou]

Withdrawing tax payers money at casinos and strip clubs.... these are folks who obviously don't need welfare.

[nyc_logic]

They should confiscate the cards of the people who used them at the strip clubs. If they whine about how they need their card to feed their families, inform them that they will just have to explain to their kids that some "ho on a pole" has their food now. These people win the "Way-to-Go *****" award.