Grisanti pleased Senate passes Public Assistance Integrity Act

Grisanti co-sponsored legislation would cut down on fraud and abuse in the welfare system

The New York State Senate passed the Public Assistance Integrity Act (S966) Tuesday. Sen. Mark Grisanti co-sponsored the legislation. This is the third consecutive time it has passed the State Senate.

"I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation, which would protect your tax dollars and stop the abuse in the welfare program," Grisanti said. "Using your tax dollars to support a transaction at a liquor store, casino or strip club is not only inappropriate, but it goes against the intent of the welfare program."

The legislation would cut down on the flagrant abuse of Electronic Benefit Transfer cards by prohibiting welfare recipients from using cash assistance to purchase tobacco, alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets or to gamble.

New York faces an important deadline: By Feb. 22, the state must show the federal government how it's going to prevent welfare fraud and abuse from EBT cards. If the state does not act, it will stand to lose more than $120 million in federal Temporary Aid to Needy Families. New York spends more than $2.7 billion each year administering cash assistance.