http://www.kwgn.com/news/kdvr-bill-...lub-atms-moves-ahead-20110127,0,6122478.story
KWGN
Strip club ATMs soon could be off limits to welfare recipients
Eli Stokols
Political Reporter
5:23 PM MST, January 27, 2011
DENVER -- A House committee gave near-unanimous approval Thursday to a proposal that aims to prevent welfare recipients from withdrawing their benefits at ATM's located at casinos, liquor stores and strip clubs.
House Bill 1058, sponsored by freshman state Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, is a response to reports that some Coloradans who qualify for the state's temporary assistance program have been doing just that, accessing their money at places like Shotgun Willie's Gentlemen's Club and Black Hawk casinos.
Established in 1997, the state's Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program now provides financial assistance to nearly 12,000 families, the majority of which are single mothers.
Withdrawing welfare payments at liquor stores and casinos is already outlawed in the program's bylaws, but it hasn't been enforced; nor has the technology existed to monitor it, until recently.
"There has been documented proof that money has been withdrawn from ATMs in these prohibited locations," Pabon told the committee.
"All I'd like to do with this bill is make sure that taxpayer dollars are being used wisely, efficiently and in the best place possible where funds should go, which are generally to food, clothing, rent. So you might imagine withdrawing these benefits in a liquor store, casino or strip club might not be the most appropriate place to do that."
Advocates for the poor testified against the measure and voiced concerns that the proposal would make it increasingly difficult for people of limited means to access their benefits.
"There really is a presumption of guilt rather than innocence," said Brad Wood with the group "All Families Deserve a Chance."
"For some of these low-income individuals, the places that may be the most convenient for them to access cash may not be what we consider the most appropriate place, but it may be the easiest place."
Wood told the committee they'd be better off spending their time examining the real problem with the TANF program -- the often slow delivery of funds to recipients.
"If we're looking at stewardship of taxpayer dollars, we should be paying more attention to how folks in our community in dire need of services are actually getting those services," Wood said.
Pauline Burton, the director of the Colorado Dept. of Human Services, which runs the TANF program, also known as Colorado Works, told the committee that most withdrawals don't take place at the forbidden ATMs.
"Almost all clients do not access benefits at the locations that are on this list," Burton said. But Pabon urged the committee to be "proactive."
"I think its incumbent upon us as good stewards of taxpayer dollars to act now, before the problem gets worse," he said.
His argument convinced all but one lawmaker on the 13-member House Health and Environment Committee, which voted 12-1 in favor of the measure, which now heads back to the full House for a vote.
Democratic Rep. John Kefalas of Fort Collins was the only lawmaker to vote no.
KWGN
Strip club ATMs soon could be off limits to welfare recipients
Eli Stokols
Political Reporter
5:23 PM MST, January 27, 2011
DENVER -- A House committee gave near-unanimous approval Thursday to a proposal that aims to prevent welfare recipients from withdrawing their benefits at ATM's located at casinos, liquor stores and strip clubs.
House Bill 1058, sponsored by freshman state Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, is a response to reports that some Coloradans who qualify for the state's temporary assistance program have been doing just that, accessing their money at places like Shotgun Willie's Gentlemen's Club and Black Hawk casinos.
Established in 1997, the state's Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program now provides financial assistance to nearly 12,000 families, the majority of which are single mothers.
Withdrawing welfare payments at liquor stores and casinos is already outlawed in the program's bylaws, but it hasn't been enforced; nor has the technology existed to monitor it, until recently.
"There has been documented proof that money has been withdrawn from ATMs in these prohibited locations," Pabon told the committee.
"All I'd like to do with this bill is make sure that taxpayer dollars are being used wisely, efficiently and in the best place possible where funds should go, which are generally to food, clothing, rent. So you might imagine withdrawing these benefits in a liquor store, casino or strip club might not be the most appropriate place to do that."
Advocates for the poor testified against the measure and voiced concerns that the proposal would make it increasingly difficult for people of limited means to access their benefits.
"There really is a presumption of guilt rather than innocence," said Brad Wood with the group "All Families Deserve a Chance."
"For some of these low-income individuals, the places that may be the most convenient for them to access cash may not be what we consider the most appropriate place, but it may be the easiest place."
Wood told the committee they'd be better off spending their time examining the real problem with the TANF program -- the often slow delivery of funds to recipients.
"If we're looking at stewardship of taxpayer dollars, we should be paying more attention to how folks in our community in dire need of services are actually getting those services," Wood said.
Pauline Burton, the director of the Colorado Dept. of Human Services, which runs the TANF program, also known as Colorado Works, told the committee that most withdrawals don't take place at the forbidden ATMs.
"Almost all clients do not access benefits at the locations that are on this list," Burton said. But Pabon urged the committee to be "proactive."
"I think its incumbent upon us as good stewards of taxpayer dollars to act now, before the problem gets worse," he said.
His argument convinced all but one lawmaker on the 13-member House Health and Environment Committee, which voted 12-1 in favor of the measure, which now heads back to the full House for a vote.
Democratic Rep. John Kefalas of Fort Collins was the only lawmaker to vote no.
