Federal Government Tries to Stop Food Stamp 'Water Dumping' Fraud

Ought Six · 08-25-2011, 05:22 PM

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011...#ixzz1W2TqqhOb

Kassy · 08-26-2011, 02:38 PM

What a waste. I wonder if food stamps should be used for bottled water in the first place.

BoneDaddy · 08-26-2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kassy

What a waste. I wonder if food stamps should be used for bottled water in the first place.

Quick answer? No. Use the tap.

Potemkin · 08-26-2011, 03:06 PM

Easy to fix.

No bottled water, soda, etc with Federal Food Stamp program.

That is one advantage to having electronic benefit cards.

that guy · 08-26-2011, 08:02 PM

That doesn't sound like fraud to me. That is what we call "unintended consequences" and any government program automatically has a lot of them.

That is exactly the same as a program in Arizona a few years ago: a 50% subsidy on vehicles using alternative fuels. Suddenly the state realized it was shelling out over two million bux to buy new SUV's for people. All anybody had to do was pay for a dual fuel conversion before taking delivery, and the state would pay for half the price of the vehicle. And then they didn't even have to use the alternative fuel.

Ought Six · 08-26-2011, 10:43 PM

tg:

Quote:

That doesn't sound like fraud to me. That is what we call "unintended consequences" and any government program automatically has a lot of them.

Food stamps are to buy approved types of food for the poor. Schemes to convert food stamps to cash to allow the funds to be diverted for other purposes is defrauding the program, and thus defrauding the taxpayers.

that guy · 08-28-2011, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ought Six

tg:Food stamps are to buy approved types of food for the poor. Schemes to convert food stamps to cash to allow the funds to be diverted for other purposes is defrauding the program, and thus defrauding the taxpayers.

Yes, well, governments are created to promote the general welfare, not specific welfare. So any governmental giveaway program is fraudulent to start with.

But in this case the money is provided to buy stuff, and bottled water is an authorized product, and there is no law requiring people to actually eat or drink what they buy, and redeeming the empties is not a crime, so there is no fraud. It is simply an unintended consequence.

Ought Six · 08-28-2011, 02:25 AM

Quote:

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/08/1...cam-continues/

Excerpt:

A provision under the 2008 Farm Act specifically forbids the use of SNAP funds to get cash by buying products for the container’s redemption value, but until recently no penalties existed.

It is illegal.

Potemkin · 08-28-2011, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by that guy

Yes, well, governments are created to promote the general welfare, not specific welfare. So any governmental giveaway program is fraudulent to start with.

But in this case the money is provided to buy stuff, and bottled water is an authorized product, and there is no law requiring people to actually eat or drink what they buy, and redeeming the empties is not a crime, so there is no fraud. It is simply an unintended consequence.

It would be in my state.

This would be similar to a recipient buying food, resellingn it at a discount to generate cash, then buying beer and cigarettes.

Both would be fraud.