Bill Limits Cash Welfare Recipients Can Withdraw

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Republican legislators think they have a way to keep Minnesotans on welfare from spending their benefits on booze, smokes and lottery tickets: They'd keep them from taking more than $20 in benefits in cash.

Right now, welfare recipients can use their electronic benefits cards to withdraw much of their monthly allotment in cash. The proposed legislation would require more people on welfare to get a second card to use for cash withdrawal, and would limit that to no more than $20 a month.

Sen. Doug Magnus of Slayton said he introduced the bill because convenience store owners told him they saw people withdraw cash with their electronic benefits cards and use it to buy alcohol and cigarettes.

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