The federal government set a hard deadline of February 22, 2014 for states to set new standards to prevent misuse of welfare dollars or risk losing funding—$120 million in New York State.
The reforms were required to prevent the use of EBT cash withdrawals for cigarettes, adult entertainment, gambling and other inappropriate uses.
Gov. Cuomo says the state is in the clear due to internal agency reforms that were submitted by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
Unfortunately, the reforms consisted of internal agency policy, and time will tell if the federal government accepts this as enough to meet its standards.
Even if the standards are accepted, it doesn’t excuse the Assembly Democrats’ failure to reform welfare.
It was the legislature’s duty to pass reforms to ensure that we wouldn’t lose the much-needed funding and that the program would remain solvent for those who need it most—struggling families.
On February 5, the Senate passed the Public Assistance Integrity Act, a bill that would have met all the federal government’s requirements.
The Assembly, however, refused to act.
The measure, which has been in existence for three years and passed the Senate multiple times, has failed over and over in the Assembly.
The clock was ticking, and instead of passing the law, the legislature was allowed to adjourn for vacation.
Our jobs weren’t finished; our responsibility was to be in Albany passing those reforms.
It is shameful that the Assembly Democrat leadership refused to do its job.
I urge my legislative colleagues to do the right thing and pass these welfare reforms to strengthen the changes made in our state agencies.
It is our responsibility and is important to New York taxpayers.
If you have questions or comments about welfare reform, please contact me at my Herkimer Office at 315-866-1632, my Johnstown Office at 518-762-6486 or email me at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us.