Kansas Gets Mean

"Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, has just signed a bill from his state legislature banning welfare recipients from spending the public aid they receive through the federal Temporary Aid to Needy Families program in ways lawmakers deem wasteful or inappropriate.

Here’s a partial list of what is now off limits for TANF spending in Kansas:
__Casinos
__Jewelry stores
__Massage parlors
__Body piercing parlors
__Lingerie shops
__Vapor cigarette stores
__Fortune-telling businesses
__Video arcades
__Swimming pools
__Cruise ships
__Theme parks
__Strip clubs
__Concert tickets
__Lottery tickets "

Ref: The Fiscal Times

No cruise ships for You ! ! !

Actually DonDiego understands the lawmakers' motive of "helping welfare recipients make better decisions", . . . but he suspects the restrictions are pretty near unenforceable, . . . and if one gives people money they'll spend it pretty much as they decide.

Republicans are awesome at solving problems that don't exist....not so much at ones that do. Governor Brownback's state balance sheet is plummeting off a cliff and he's signing bills that stop the rampant abuse of welfare recipients going on cruises. Well played.

Notably not on the list of forbidden purchases: assault rifles

So pj is ok with fraud?

Poor old DonDiego would have no objection to including "assault rifles" as items prohibited to be purchased using TANF monies.

But it is unnecessary. " . . . assault rifles and machine guns, . . . have been continuously and heavily regulated since the National Firearms Act of 1934 was passed. Subsequent laws such as the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 also affected the importation and civilian ownership of fully automatic firearms, the latter fully prohibiting sales of newly manufactured machine guns to non-law enforcement or SOT (special occupational taxpayer) dealers."
Ref: wikipedia

Does Hoops know what the word "fraud" means? Doesn't appear so.

As oppossed to the necessity of stopping welfare-paid cruises ? has this ever happened? Even once?

The point is it is not necessary to place assault rifles on the list, because the purchase/ownership of assault rifles is already strictly regulated.
The purchase of cruise vacations is not similarly restricted.

Is it "necessary" to restrict the use of TANF funds so as to not permit purchasing a cruise? Apparently the Kansas Legislature and Governor think so.
DonDiego opines if some citizens need welfare assistance from their fellow citizens, such assistance should be limited to necessities. Apparently the Legislature and Governor have knowledge that TANF funds have been used to purchase items on the originally cited list; DonDiego finds the items on the list to be banned appropriate.

The Kansas Legislature and Governor think lots of unnecessary things are necessary. In 2012 they thought it was necessary to stop radical Islam from overthrowing their state government.
Kansas law stops radical Islam from taking over government

Rumor has it their next agenda item will be passing laws to limit air space rights to flying pigs.

How many cruise ships disembark in Kansas?

In any event I note Brownback's legislation is a fraud as there is no enforcement mechanism. It is nothing more than a hand job for his conservative base that is having difficult time trying to understand why the tax cuts Browback enacted destroyed the state's economy when they were promised they would be living in the land of milk and honey.

Well the The River Star for one.



But many cruise vacations begin at one's local airport. Cruise Holidays of Kansas City stands ready to assist Kansas residents with all their worldwide cruise needs.

The issue, of course, is should taxpayers fund cruise vacations, or even local strip club visits, for those receiving Temporary Assistance for Need Families.
DonDiego shares malibber's disappointment if, indeed, there is no enforcement mechanism. This deficiency could be mitigated if TANF benefits were not available as cash to the needy recipients.