Toe Jam Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localdtw/20110518/ts_yblog_localdtw/2m-michigan-lottery-winner-defends-use-of-food-stamps A Michigan man who won $2 million in a state lottery game continues to collect food stamps 11 months after striking it rich.And there's nothing the state can do about it, at least for now. Leroy Fick, 59, of Auburn won $2 million in the state lottery TV show "Make Me Rich!" last June. But the state's Department of Human Services determined he was still eligible for food stamps, Fick's attorney, John Wilson of Midland, said Tuesday. Eligibility for food stamps is based on gross income and follows federal guidelines; lottery winnings are considered liquid assets and don't count as income. As long as Fick's gross income stays below the eligibility requirement for food stamps, he can receive them, even if he has a million dollars in the bank. Food stamps are paid for through tax dollars and are meant to help support low-income families. "If you're going to try to make me feel bad, you're not going to do it," Fick told WNEM-TV in Saginaw on Monday. click link for more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 click link for more no thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattFancy Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 He is what is wrong with the Welfare system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosher Ham Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 I posted this in the welfare thread this morning. It's pitiful. I think someone else posted it after me also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 He is what is wrong with the Welfare system That is correct. He is exactly what is wrong with the Welfare system. Ultra-rare anecdotal examples like this are what people use to justify their opposition to government assistance programs that overwhelmingly go to people who need them. I am fully in favor of a law that says that anyone who wins millions of dollars in a lottery will not be eligible for goverment assistance. That should cut down our welfare rolls by at least 7 or 8 people a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EersSkins05 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Obviously this is ridiculous, and obviously he shouldn't still be receiving these benefits, but I particularly enjoyed this tidbit: "For Leroy Fick to continue to use a Bridge Card, paid for by the taxpayers, after winning the lottery, is obscene," said Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge. "What a waste of taxpayer money." Something tells me there are far greater wastes of taxpayer money than the 200 bucks a month this guy probably gets from his food stamps. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattFancy Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 That is correct. He is exactly what is wrong with the Welfare system.Ultra-rare anecdotal examples like this are what people use to justify their opposition to government assistance programs that overwhelmingly go to people who need them. I am fully in favor of a law that says that anyone who wins millions of dollars in a lottery will not be eligible for goverment assistance. That should cut down our welfare rolls by at least 7 or 8 people a year. Not that he won the lottery, but people that abuse the system in general. Welfare is there for people that are going through hard times as a way to get them back on their feet. It shouldn't be a way of life for people. BTW--I totally support welfare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 That is correct. He is exactly what is wrong with the Welfare system.Ultra-rare anecdotal examples like this are what people use to justify their opposition to government assistance programs that overwhelmingly go to people who need them. I am fully in favor of a law that says that anyone who wins millions of dollars in a lottery will not be eligible for goverment assistance. That should cut down our welfare rolls by at least 7 or 8 people a year. 7 or 8? there's 6 other million dollar + lottery winners on food stamps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 7 or 8? there's 6 other million dollar + lottery winners on food stamps? No, probably not. I guess I exaggerated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 he won 2 million 11 months ago? He's probably on the road to bankruptcy by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Here is my plan for food stamp reform: 1. Severely limit the selection of foods that are eligible. Work with federal dietary guidelines to include things like certain types of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean (inexpensive) proteins, like certain cuts of chicken or maybe even just beans. Buying reeses cups and 2 liters of soda on food stamps is simply unnacceptable, I'm not sure why that's allowed and I have no idea how anyone can defend it. Only drinks allowed should be milk or milk substitute, and water. No juice, no gatorade, no cola, etc. 2. Require fingerprint authorization at Point of Sale in order to use the card. This might be a tad unrealistic but I believe they could make it happen. 3. Provide incentives to work. I would actually be in favor of an increase in benefits if one can show stable employment. Not sure how that would work with single moms taking care of multiple children, however. Someone should put some thought into it 4. Forced sterilization of any welfare/food stamp recipient with 2 or more children (men and women both). This is the most unrealistic of all, but would also have the biggest impact. It makes too much sense, we'd never allow it in this country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMK9973 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 seems easy to fix....The reason he still collects is it is based on gross income only. It should include assets as well..... Problem solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 seems easy to fix....The reason he still collects is it is based on gross income only. It should include assets as well..... Problem solved. Yep. Except I suspect it probably would cost the government a lot more money to monitor people's assets than it would save. That's one of the reasons that we rely on income taxes rather than wealth taxes - income is much easier to monitor and harder to hide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnyderShrugged Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Yep. Except I suspect it probably would cost the government a lot more money to monitor people's assets than it would save. That's one of the reasons that we rely on income taxes rather than wealth taxes - income is much easier to monitor and harder to hide. Where I'm a bit lost is how in the world lottery winnings arent considered income? I cant see how that is possible? Dont most lottery winners give up nearly half for taxes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMK9973 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Yep. Except I suspect it probably would cost the government a lot more money to monitor people's assets than it would save. That's one of the reasons that we rely on income taxes rather than wealth taxes - income is much easier to monitor and harder to hide. True - but at LEAST write it in the requirments. Even if you don't check. Then at least when something like this happens, it very easy to put a end to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnyderShrugged Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 now that I look more at it, I suppose that the loophole is because they are considered "liquid" assets, and they would be taxed once used? maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcsluggo Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 and... what would be the reaction to an out of work 60 year old widow that is forced to sell here house to buy food, because she had too many "assets" to be eligible for foodstamps? or how about a farmer that has to sell of his land during a drought, because that land is so valuable? simple and obvious solutions usually aren't as simple as they seem... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capcrunch98 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 he won 2 million 11 months ago? He's probably on the road to bankruptcy by now. Sadly, the statistics say you are correct. An article I read a while back noted that more than half of all lottery winners squander their money away within a few years, with many also losing their relationships with family and friends in the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMK9973 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 and... what would be the reaction to an out of work 60 year old widow that is forced to sell here house to buy food, because she had too many "assets" to be eligible for foodstamps?or how about a farmer that has to sell of his land during a drought, because that land is so valuable? simple and obvious solutions usually aren't as simple as they seem... All fair points - but I'm actually not that sad about that. 60 year old women who is sitting on a valuable house shouldn't collect food stamps. Reverse mortgage. Farmer -yes -Sell some land, take out a loan.I support food stamps as a LAST resort. Not as easiest resort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 The food stamp issue isn't an eligibility issue. It's a special interest lobby issue. As in the food producers don't want it to end because that's a couple of hundred million dollars worth of inventory that gets moved. These people don't shop at Giant (or Wegman's) it's Walmart and other discount grocery stores. It's just another way for our money to cycle back to big corporations. That's my conspiracy theory of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCSaints_fan Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Yep. Except I suspect it probably would cost the government a lot more money to monitor people's assets than it would save. That's one of the reasons that we rely on income taxes rather than wealth taxes - income is much easier to monitor and harder to hide. Seems like its the opposite to me; there are alot of assets that are much easier to audit then income. Things that have to go on title like homes, cars, boats, etc. as well as bank accounts that have to be tied to an individual (at least eventually, obviously there are business/organization accounts but the business/org has to have). Since people can be paid in cash/other goods, it seems like its much easier to hide income. In addition, I've seen alot of small business owners write off expenses that are supposed to be for their business but are really for personal use, and theres really no audit trail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardi gras skin Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 That is correct. He is exactly what is wrong with the Welfare system.Ultra-rare anecdotal examples like this are what people use to justify their opposition to government assistance programs that overwhelmingly go to people who need them. I wish. Milking the welfare system might be the biggest industry in rural south Georgia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiebear Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 We just beg them to employ common sense. Cut his ass off. Give that money to the next person spending it on lottery tickets . Running the system is quite a few people 'job'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadySkinsFan Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Food stamps are for poor people. If you have $1million after taxes, you are NOT poor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedr01 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 he won 2 million 11 months ago? He's probably on the road to bankruptcy by now. i didn't know he was a football player? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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