TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – The Florida House has banned the use of welfare recipients’ EBT cards at “adult entertainment establishments” like strip joints, casinos and bottle clubs.
The House on Thursday passed a bill (HB 701) by an 89-26 vote.
EBT cards – standing for electronic benefit transfer – are like debit cards. Welfare recipients use them to draw down their benefits.
Democrats fought against the bill. They said it was paternalistic and offensive to poor people.
Bill sponsor Jimmie Smith explained that voting against his measure was like “voting for lap dances on taxpayer dollars.”
Source: Associated Press
