Budget-Conscious States Rethink Food Stamp Ban For Drug Felons

[The Straight Story]

Budget-Conscious States Rethink Food Stamp Ban For Drug Felons

Washington, DC (April 6, 2011) -- When the landmark welfare reform law was enacted in 1996, the political rallying cry was "ending welfare as we know it." Today, a move is underway to rescind some of the law's punitive measures, such as provisions that permit states to deny welfare benefits and food stamps to people convicted of felony drug crimes.

These provisions were intended to prevent selling or trading food stamps for drugs, but widespread budget deficits and steep recidivism rates are prompting state governments that enforce the benefit bans to rethink the policy amid high unemployment and escalating prison costs. New Jersey and South Dakota are the latest states to reverse course and allow drug felons to receive public assistance.

Advocates for former felons are seizing the moment to make the case that the restrictions are counterproductive in tough economic times, and they are urging state and congressional lawmakers to remove the benefits ban. Convicted felons have difficulty getting jobs even in good economic times, and public assistance and food stamps are critical income supports during the transition from prison, the advocates say.

http://www.blacknews.com/news/states_rethink_food_stamp_ban_drug_felons101.shtml