Wheels for Welfare
By Angela F. F. Davis | 05/08/09 | 08:13 PM EDT | 5 Comments
One would assume that if a state is in fiscal meltdown, the taxpayer sees more tax hikes on the horizon, and the unemployment rate is cresting 8.9 % , that perhaps the mere thought of adding more fat to the welfare budget is not even a concept.
Wrong.
It's "Wheels for Welfare" in Massachusetts, brought to you courtesy of Governor Deval Patrick. Peel back the tab on that sweet deal and we looking at free car insurance, free inspection, excise tax, registration, title, and a "AAA" card for the wallet to boot.
Yes, that's right, more pinching from your wallet directly into theirs.
Let me get this straight: we are struggling to keep our jobs, pay our bills, and still make our annual donations to charitable causes, and the Governor is tossing free cars with all the trimmings to those who do not have to get up in the morning?
Where's my welfare scooter Governor? I've always wanted one of those little red ones.
So I guess I have to lose my job, not pay my mortgage and crank out a few more kids to get that free scooter?
The Massachusetts share of stimulus money, two thirds of it, or 3.5 billion dollars is going to "Safety Net" funding. Know what that is? Unemployment Insurance, Transitional Assistance, Food stamps. Meanwhile, the Public Safety slice of the pie is getting a drop in the bucket. What happened to the 1000 new police officers you promised the state, Governor? That would feed two needs: new job creation and enhanced public safety.
Wheels for Welfare is put into rotation by the same Massachusetts government that put forward "IVF" funding for welfare recipients as well! Yes, Massachusetts entertained paying for welfare moms fertility treatments.
This is the track record and this nonsense needs to stop.
Too many are living on the taxpayers in this state for the wrong reasons. And the taxpayers expenses keep doing the vertical dance. What is the point of getting up in the morning and working so hard? What's the point?
What about just doing away with the excise tax for one year on my car? What about one small thing that would be helpful to relieve some of the pressure for those of us dragging our behinds into work? What about that?
And by the way, Governor, I could really use an oil change. I just haven't had time. Can you hook me up?
TAGS: Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts, Welfare, Stimulus, Public Safety
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5 Comments | Related Topics »Norfolk County (MA)
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Comments
The cars are donated by private charity. Gov. Romney developed the program to help churches give cars to the poor. The insurance is paid back by being deducted from their monthly checks. The cost is 90 percent private charity. So why are you bashing this?
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|whats next caddys for illegals now that his hommie barrack owns chrysler and gm we should get the at cost seeing how we all ready paid for the twice
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|The plan takes donated cars and uses taxpayer dollars for repairs,
registration, insurance, excise tax, the title and AAA membership for one year.
If it were generated and fully funded by non profit you would be
precisely right,
and then, alas, my column would not exist.
But, that is not the case, hence the story.
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|To be clear: this program is not fully funded by charitable organizations or non-profits.
The reason this story exists is because the plan takes donated cars and
uses taxpayer dollars for repairs, registration, insurance, excise tax, the title and
AAA membership for one year.
Hence: the taxpayer is indeed paying for this program. In excess of
$400K annually.
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|I am a single mother on welfare but definitely not by choice. I completed a training school program and began working for Harvard Pilgrim Health Insurance Co., when 5 months in I had to quit because my second child was also diagnosed with Autism just like his older sibling. I took the money from my tax returns and went to purchase a vehicle only to be sold a lemon. My now oldest 6 year old is finally beginning to eat solid foods but we have to make a 1 hour trip to and from to get feeding services once a week. Not to mention the other appointments and places they both need services. My vehicle is bound to stop working any day now. I look forward to the day I am able to work again, its already been 3 years since my last job. I think this program is good but just needs to be screened carefully to ensure it goes to deserving people in unfortunate circumstances.
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