Some North Carolina residents are upset over a new measure to ban welfare recipients from buying Lottery tickets. The legislation is currently being drafted and would see all lottery ticket merchants refusing to sell to individuals who receive government assistance or who are going through bankruptcy.
Representative Paul Stam, who is helping to draft the proposal, says the measure would ensure that government money is not being misdirected.
“We’re giving them welfare to help them live, and yet by selling them a ticket, we’re taking away their money that is there to provide them the barest of necessities,” Stam said.
But many think the local government is missing the bigger picture, and should be focusing on eliminating the need for welfare in the first place before cracking down on something which may or may not be enforceable.
“The NAACP, we didn’t agree with the lottery to start with. Rather than Mr. Stam having a side argument, ask him to stop blocking labor rights for poor people and working people. Ask him to have a real conversation about real wage,” NAACP President Rev. William Barber said.
How NC gonna ban people on welfare from paying the lottery? Is your ID gonna say I receive welfare or I filed bankruptcy? I see lawsuits
— DW (@RainingOnU) January 25, 2013
Proposed welfare lottery ban in NC? Good. About time someone starts putting the sprags to things. Let’s get the whole country to do it.
— Brittany Elizabeth (@Boxing_Cl3v3r) January 25, 2013
RT @arianna8927 Yes, we don’t want a poor person getting rich–>Proposal to ban welfare recipients from playing lottery abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?sec…
— Brett Rossi (@BreettR4763) January 25, 2013
