Woman is Fired for Refusing To Sell Cigarettes on EBT Cards

[ralerin]

Here's a local story that I'm surprised more people aren't picking up.

The original story

A followup

And today's story, in which she's meeting with lawmakers to discuss the future of EBT cash benefits.

*golf clap* Well fucking done, lady. I hate people who come in and pay with beer and whatnot on EBT cash or who beg for cashback on their EBT cards and then they buy cigarettes with it. I HATE it. I want the laws changed, so badly.

[Nekojin]

I'm not up to speed on the EBT program, but isn't it against the law to directly use EBT funds for anything other than food? Which beer and cigarettes are not?

[Akasa]

There's EBT Food and EBT Cash. It's the cash part they're using for frivolous things. The Food has limits on what you can buy with it, like no hot food. With the cash you can ask for cash back and just buy what ever. That's what they're wanting to fix.

[Peppergirl]

People are allowed to purchase frivolous items with their EBT cash cards in most states.

Things like alcohol and cigarettes.

In reading the articles, NH is in the process of implementing a plan to deny the EBT cash customers from using them at Casinos, adult establishments and the like.

Nice, huh?

I mean, shit, I wouldn't deprive anyone of having what they need. But if I can't afford to smoke and I work a minimum of 45 hours a week, it galls me that someone whom I support as a taxpayer is allowed to do so with no repercussions.

That said, I applaud her balls, but the place to bitch to about the laws is with the lawmakers. The guy, while a complete tool, was within his rights to buy the fucking things.

I do applaud her for now working with lawmakers to change the laws, though.

[wolfie]

Somethings up on the unionleader site. I get an "access denied" message whenever I try to follow a link that goes there.

[Peppergirl]

Hmmm - just worked for me, 925pm EST.

Maybe traffic?

[Nekojin]

People are allowed to purchase frivolous items with their EBT cash cards in most states.

Things like alcohol and cigarettes.

In reading the articles, NH is in the process of implementing a plan to deny the EBT cash customers from using them at Casinos, adult establishments and the like.

Won't work unless you also lock out the ability to withdraw actual cash from the cards, which could end up doing more harm than good.

Yeah, there's some people who abuse the system. But just saying that there's a problem, and holding up a few anecdotal example cases, isn't actually proof that something needs to be done. Just as with Florida's drive to drug-test their welfare recipients, the end result could be worse than the status quo. There will always be loopholes, work-arounds, and ways to cheat the system. It's what humans do - we look at a problem or obstacle, and try to find ways around it.

[bainsidhe]

The second article explains that the Health & Human services department told the business to make the sale or lose the right to accept EBT purchases. Not accepting EBT would be a death blow for that business. I don't blame them for caving, although I still think the woman shouldn't have been fired. As a cashier, why can't she just refuse to serve someone? Let the manager ring them out instead. Not a perfect fix and it doesn't solve the issue at hand, but it's a workaround. I commend her for standing up for what she believes and for trying to make change happen.

I'm all for preventing EBT cash at casinos and the like, BUT I think folks are being misled about the "rampant" problem. They've been talking similar legislation in my state and headlines shout about the horrible abusers of our welfare system. Then my state did a study, which showed EBT use at strip clubs and casinos was incredibly small. I believe they're doing more research, because folks don't want to believe it will cost more to change the system than to leave it alone.

[Rapscallion]

As a cashier, why can't she just refuse to serve someone? Let the manager ring them out instead. Not a perfect fix and it doesn't solve the issue at hand, but it's a workaround.

Mostly because that's what she was paid to do. Why pay her to be there if someone else is going to have to do the work? I agree that it's not something I want my tax to fund, but if the job's legal and I've agreed to do it, I have to do it or risk not having a job.

It's akin to the pharmacist who wouldn't dispense birth control due to religious beliefs.

Rapscallion

[Nekojin]

Mostly because that's what she was paid to do. Why pay her to be there if someone else is going to have to do the work? I agree that it's not something I want my tax to fund, but if the job's legal and I've agreed to do it, I have to do it or risk not having a job.

It's akin to the pharmacist who wouldn't dispense birth control due to religious beliefs.

Agreed. When I worked at a liquor store, the only time I refused to sell was when I was legally obligated to - when the person was obviously drunk already, or when there were kids outside trying to get a third-party sale, and I thought the person buying was buying for them, not him/herself... or when they didn't have ID.

Having chosen to work at a liquor store (actually, I didn't choose that, but that's a looong story), I can't exactly start refusing people for legal purchases just because I don't like what they might be doing with it.

[Rapscallion]

Having reread the article, it seems that after six years and hitting what I would consider to be retirement age, she's in a comfortable enough position where she can make a stand. She's talking to the press and lawmakers, and you know what? Good on her.

She's trying to make a difference.

Whilst I don't want people on welfare to be partying, I don't want to seeing them ground down either. Someone who saves up for a bottle of wine once a month doesn't bother me. Cigarettes are a daily habit and a very expensive one at that. Someone who gets their social security and blows it all on lager and then complains they have no money left is basically a wanker.

We need a happier medium.

Rapscallion

[Lace Neil Singer]

Reminds me of this girl who tried to buy crates of beer with her milk tokens then complained that I was being difficult.

Cept in that case, management took my side cuz it's clearly stated on the tokens themselves that you can only use them to buy liquid milk, formula, fruit and veg; beer not included.

[bara]

Well, if nothing else she managed to get national attention drawn to the subject. At least until a pretty white girl goes missing.

[insertNameHere]

Random numbers being used. Lets say 95% of people don't use the card... that still 1 out of 20 who is taking my fucking tax dollars and using them for stupid shit when working min wage and busting my ass I couldn't dare afford but it is like a rich little fucking kid, they have no concept of what it means when they havn't done shit to get the money.

[Nekojin]

Random numbers being used. Lets say 95% of people don't use the card... that still 1 out of 20 who is taking my fucking tax dollars and using them for stupid shit when working min wage and busting my ass I couldn't dare afford but it is like a rich little fucking kid, they have no concept of what it means when they havn't done shit to get the money.

Sure, and that sucks. But do you want to spend hundreds of thousands to stop tens of thousands in abuse? There's no such thing as a perfect system; there will always be people who weasel their way around the system. At some point, you have to say, "Eh, close enough."