22 Mar 2011 12:32 pm
Here come the less intrusive, small government Conservatives once again.War On The Poor: Minnesota Republicans Want To Bust Poor People Who Carry CashSt. Paul, MN Minnesota Republicans are pushing legislation that would make it a crime for people on public assistance to have more $20 in cash in their pockets any given month. This represents a change from their initial proposal, which banned them from having any money at all.House File 171 would make it so that families on MFIP and disabled single adults on General Assistance and Minnesota Supplemental Aid could not have their cash grants in cash or put into a checking account. Rather, they could only use a state-issued debit card at special terminals in certain businesses that are set up to accept the card.The bill also calls for unconstitutional residency requirements, not allowing the debit card to be used across state lines and other provisions that the Welfare Rights Committee and others consider unacceptable.I wonder how they plan to enforce this? Are they going to stop people on the street who look poor, and check their pockets? Will they follow them out of state to make sure they don't use their debit card illegally?I smell a police state.