Lupinacci Blasts Assembly Democrats For Putting Federal Funding At Risk

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) today is calling on the Assembly Democrats to follow the State Senate’s lead and pass the Public Assistance Integrity Act (A. 2386). The legislation has already passed the Senate, but continues to sit dormant in the Assembly Social Services Committee. If the legislation is not passed and signed into law by February 22, New York State risks losing $120 million in federal aid toward welfare programs. 

“The Public Assistance Integrity Act has been passed by my colleagues in the Senate repeatedly because it is common-sense legislation that will protect our tax dollars,” said Lupinacci. “Our temporary assistance programs provide those in need with the support they deserve to get back on their feet. This legislation simply protects the integrity of those programs so they are not abused or exploited by those with ill-intentions. Prohibiting the purchase of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or lottery tickets with public assistance benefits that come from hard-earned tax dollars is just common sense.”

The Public Assistance Integrity Act results from a federal mandate signed by President Barack Obama which requires states to enact new regulations that protect public assistance benefits from abuse. Under the legislation passed by the State Senate, New York would prohibit the sale or purchase of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or lottery tickets with public assistance benefits. New York would also ban the use of public assistance benefits by means of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) transactions at liquor stores, casinos or adult entertainment facilities.

Lupinacci and his colleagues have created a countdown clock in the hope of inspiring their Assembly Majority colleagues to take up the legislation before the deadline. The clock can be viewed online at: www.bit.ly/WelfareReformClock.