Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick vetoes ban on purchasing tattoos, manicures, porn with EBT

Daily Caller ^ | 7-9-12 | Caroline May

[tcrlaf]

Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick has vetoed the state legislature’s attempt to ban the use of EBT cards — or food stamps — to purchase items such as tattoos, porn and jewelry. Patrick vetoed the reforms Sunday while signing the state’s $32.5 billion budget.

According to the Boston Herald, which first reported the veto, the governor berated the legislature’s stab at banning the purchase of specific items like manicures, tattoos, guns, porn, body piercings, jewelry, and bail by saying the move was “political grandstanding” at a time when such reforms are already on track elsewhere.

“I’m not going to do anything that makes vulnerable people beg for their benefits. This notion of humiliating poor people has got to be separated from how we make a program, and frankly separated and disposed of, from how we make a program work and work well,” Patrick said.

Patrick allowed bans on the use of EBT cards in establishments known for the sale of seemingly controversial items — such as tattoo parlors, gun shops, casinos, cruise ships, and adult entertainment facilities —- to stand.

[Jane Long]

Is there a way to see EBT purchases by state?

[the invisib1e hand]

Tattoos must be incredibly cheap given all the truly ignorant people I’ve seen wearing a whole bunch of them. Of course, if you can finance them with food stamps, why not get 20 or 30? After all, you need to express yourself as the individual clueless lemming you are.

bump.

[nascarnation]

Apparently the media guy was able to get it in Indiana from the state govt.

http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/indiana/state-welfare-money-being-squandered

[silverleaf]

Nancy Pelosi DID say food stamps and unemployment are great economic stimulus

[silverleaf]

Nancy Pelosi DID say food stamps and unemployment are great economic stimulus

[RightSight]

Just as Franklin said:

“I am for doing good to the poor, but…I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. I observed…that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”

[j_tull]

Don’t forget to add Romney to the list of fools that have been elected here. BTW, if you think the only place this is happening is Massachusetts, you should paint yourself with the same broad brush you are waving at me.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

if you think the only place this is happening is Massachusetts, you should paint yourself with the same broad brush you are waving at me.

Hell I didn't even know you were there, but if the shoe don't fit...don't wear it.

Besides, we just elected uber-conservative Republican Governor Paul LePage, and the first Republican controlled Statehouse in over 40 years.

Olympia Snowe just quit, because she got sick of being called a RINO.

You got anything like that?

[j_tull]

You got anything like that?

I wish. Love your Gov! The Dims are all sideways with his comments equating the IRS with the Gestapo. Here in MA4, we do have a legit conservative Tea Party candidate running against a Kennedy runt. There is hope. Cheers.

[dfwgator]

Poor people should be humiliated, that will force them to get off their butts so they aren’t poor anymore.

[tcrlaf]

“Can you use your EBT card to make online campaign contributions to Democrats in Massachusetts?”

YES....