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Tennessee proposes $600 lottery winnings cap for Welfare patrons
So, a person enduring financial hardship hits the lottery, but... gets only $600.
That's the suggestion by the Tennessee legislature, according to one news report. The idea is for those who have less money to burn to not spend it on the lottery.
Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) introduced the bill and according to one TV station, says: “If you can't afford the bare necessities and if you rely on the government for the bare necessities of life, you shouldn't be taking what money you do have and blowing it on the lottery."
Boy, I'm mixed on this one. What do you think? Too much government? Or a necessary way to help people from themselves?
NICK SORTAL began playing 3-card "gut" and "Indian poker" on high school band trips, early training for his...
Comments
I AGREE!!! If you have money to BLOW on lottery tix, then you buy your own damn food, pay for your own damn doctor bills, and pay your own damn rent!!!
I love it! When do we vote!?
Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2009 3:26 PM
I AGREE!!! If you have money to BLOW on lottery tix, then you buy your own damn food, pay for your own damn doctor bills, and pay your own damn rent!!!
I love it! When do we vote!?
Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2009 3:26 PM
I AGREE!!! If you have money to BLOW on lottery tix, then you buy your own damn food, pay for your own damn doctor bills, and pay your own damn rent!!!
I love it! When do we vote!?
Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2009 3:26 PM
If you are a welfare bottom feeder, living off of other people...then you should be kicked off welfare and free everything else if you have money to waste on the lottery!!! smart thinking! obama would probably be against lazy non working bums being deined the right to spend tax payer money to gamble!!
Posted by: aint ur rich uncle | April 9, 2009 4:10 PM
It would be a Republican to propose this! If they won the lottery, they could get off welfare you idiots, and pay off their debts. Yall are small minded people.
Posted by: figures | April 9, 2009 4:26 PM
A teacher living from the state pension is included in the deal?
Posted by: Well | April 9, 2009 4:27 PM
are you people crazy!!!!!!! It does not matter where the person got the money from heck all that matters is he/she got the winning ticket. Then that would be one less person that is getting assistance from the government!!!!!
Posted by: monica | April 9, 2009 4:36 PM
Lauren and Aint ur rich uncle:
First off, it is "Not your rich uncle.
Second, alot of the people on welfare are too old to take care of themselves, and have low life family members who do not care to help them. (One or both of you probably fit in that category)
Third, but not least, YOU would not be getting the rest of the lottery money that they withold. Not only that, YOU would continue to support that person on welfare, if in fact you do pay taxes. It is in YOUR best interest to let them, rather than some rich person who in your eyes can afford to BLOW money on lottery tickets(this is the correct way to spell tickets Lauren) win AND keep ALL of the money. They might even take one of thier friends or family members off welfare with them.
P.S.
The two of you and obviously the stupid republican Stacey Campfield probably voted for Bush both terms, and are probably still denying you contributed to the crisis the country is in now.
Posted by: Natalie | April 9, 2009 4:46 PM
This sounds like an idea from someone either drunk or power drunk - Either way, it's a thoughtless legislative feint to garner votes from ignorant, yes, ignorant constituents.
Posted by: Joel | April 9, 2009 4:57 PM
If we just once and for all ended government hand-outs, I wouldn't really care how anyone spent their money.
....and Joel, it's ignorant legislators who think they should take MY money and give it to someone else - no strings attached.
Posted by: KCK | April 9, 2009 5:35 PM
BTW, Campfieled is also a "Birther".
He is party to a lawsuit claiming that Obama was born in Kenya.
He is Just another GOP nutball.
Posted by: Alferd | April 9, 2009 5:41 PM
But the more I think about it, what's to stop a winner on welfare from handing over his/her ticket to someone not on welfare, with a promise to give, say, a 10 percent cut?
Posted by: Nick Sortal | April 9, 2009 7:09 PM
Stacy Campfield is a retarded idiot who should never have been elected. He is an EMBARASSMENT to the ENTIRE STATE OF TENNESSEE!
Posted by: Little Nicky | April 9, 2009 8:23 PM
Govt needs to stay out of peoples business! This is still a free country, isnt it?
Posted by: Steve | April 9, 2009 9:55 PM
"Govt needs to stay out of peoples business! "
I agree....end welfare!
Posted by: Matt | April 9, 2009 10:12 PM
Give me a break. If you're that concerned, you shouldn't sponsor a lottery to begin with. Damn hypocritical lawyer politicians! They're the same everywhere.
Posted by: Scott | April 9, 2009 10:29 PM
The Obama administration has proven that people are too stupid to take care of themselves. It was only a matter of time before the states start to impose social policy to 'think' for its citizens.
Posted by: Chris | April 9, 2009 11:12 PM
Um, did it occur to you people that if someone on welfare DOES hit the lottery, that'll get them OFF welfare?
On the other hand, the taxpayers are helping them buy essentials, not crap.
Posted by: Painkiller Jeff | April 10, 2009 1:37 AM
The pols are always quick to tax or take away the simple pleasures of the poor while fattening themselves at the public trough. I don't have a problem with laws that require a lottery jackpot winner to pay back the taxpayers' money they received. I do have a problem with the state stealing millions from people who've fallen on hard times, it's simply unamerican.
Posted by: Bob | April 10, 2009 2:14 AM
Dumbest most hypocritcal idea ever...
Posted by: Wally | April 10, 2009 5:21 AM
Let's require welfare recipients to do all sorts of things to retain their weekly benefit check... show up to a running club every other day, clean a section of roadway every morning, attend small group book clubs, drug testing, alcohol ankle monitors, no fast food, men need to be clean-shaven...
Posted by: Anonymous | April 10, 2009 6:22 AM
If they buy lottery tickets, aren't they basically giving back the extra money they don't need to the state?
Posted by: Mark | April 10, 2009 4:33 PM