State lawmakers are urging people to sign petitions in favor of a long-stalled bill that would ban public assistance from being spent on booze, lap dances and cigarettes.
The Public Assistance Integrity Act would also ban welfare recipients from using their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards at liquor stores, casinos and adult-entertainment venues.
“We’re talking about . . . putting food on the table and not frittering away [benefits] on things like alcohol and cigarettes,” said Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, a Republican in western New York state who has collected about 50 signatures.
State Sen. Jack Martins (R-Nassau County) got more than 600 people to sign on in just a few days last month, and Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer (R-Amherst) has collected more than 3,300 names. Meanwhile, Sen. Michael Nozzolio (R-Seneca Falls) snagged about 4,000 signatures.
The bill passed the Senate twice and is stalled in the Assembly, where Democratic leaders are dithering.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he prefers the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to write new regulations.
But the clock is ticking for Albany to take action. According to a federal mandate, each state must pass welfare reforms by February 2014 or lose a cut of federal funding. New York will be out $125 million if new rules aren’t passed.
Bill sponsor Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Staten Island) said he has assurances the ban can be passed administratively.
“We know we’re up against a deadline in order to adhere to the federal guidelines,” Cusick said. “I have assurances that it’s being done.”
Earlier this year, The Post revealed state data showing welfare recipients used their EBT cards to withdraw cash from liquor stores, strip clubs and X-rated shops.