Consider this, our Federal Government is heralding its record number of food stamp distribution. Meanwhile their Park Service department pleads “Do NOT feed the animals” because the animals will grow dependent on handouts and not take care of themselves.

And yes, I realize this story somewhat pales in comparison to California’s welfare recipients spending $69 million around the globe in places like Hawaii, Guam, Miami…

Welfare Debit Cards Used At Casinos And Strip Clubs

(Denver Post) Debit cards issued to provide assistance to welfare recipients were used to withdraw cash at ATMs in strip clubs, casinos, bingo halls and amusement parks, a 9News investigation found.

As a result, more than $1 million in welfare funds goes to ATM owners and banks through transaction fees every year.

“When you see the type of obvious abuses that you’ve shown, it says there are people on welfare that should not be,” said Jon Caldara of the conservative watchdog group Independence Institute.

The 9News investigation included the review of 222,000 transactions involving Colorado Quest cards, the state-issued debit cards welfare recipients use to access cash at ATMs. The transactions occurred during a six-month period in 2011 involving a total of $8.1 million in ATM withdrawals.

While state law bans welfare transactions at liquor stores, casinos and bingo halls, it does not at strip clubs.

But the 9News investigation found numerous examples of cash withdrawals at businesses where transactions are banned — and numerous examples of high ATM fees ultimately paid by the state even where transactions are allowed.

For example, 9News calculated that more than $40,000 was withdrawn from ATMs in metro-area liquor stores between May 1 and Nov. 30.

“I think it’s wrong,” said Steve Ziporlin, who works at a grocery store near Josh Liquor. “The money is supposed to be used for groceries and sundries.”

9News found numerous transactions at ATMs in casinos in Black Hawk.

“The state is giving them money, and to come up here and play with it, I think that’s defeated them and their families,” Pat Schmidt said as she left a casino. “It comes out of our pocket.”

The 9News investigation also found transactions at Elitch Gardens, at Disneyland and Universal Studios in California, at a liquor store in Los Angeles, and at ATMs along the Las Vegas strip.

At strip clubs, where transactions are not banned by state law, 9News found numerous transactions, including 14 at Shotgun Willie’s in Glendale for a combined amount of $1,500.

Taxpayers also covered the $6.50 ATM fee for each withdrawal.

Out of the 222,000 transactions reviewed by 9News, 80 percent occurred at ATMs that applied a fee to accounts, resulting in about $540,000 in fees.

[...] ”Annual maintenance on such a machine will be $12,000 to $15,000 per year. That’s a lot of money that you have to recover,” said Don Childears, president of the Colorado Bankers Association.

~snip~

$69 Million of California welfare spent around the globe: HERE

CSU receives $8 million grant for ‘bomb-detecting’ vegetation: HERE

NY Teacher’s Federation blows $9 million on cosmetic surgery: HERE

Feds burn $600,000/day to produce a coin nobody wants: HERE

Feds spend $700,000 to study cow burps: HERE

Feds spend $700,000 on joke telling software: HERE

9/11 Staffers cash-in – $350,000 salaries: HERE

$700,000 stimulus funds ‘climate change theater: HERE

Union Power! NYC Lincoln Center stagehands average $290k/year: HERE

Blue Man Group goes anti-union: HERE

Federal Workers – America’s 17th highest paid employees owe $ billions in back taxes: HERE

The Ant And The Grasshopper parable: HERE

Obama, ‘I promise to take money from people who don’t vote for me…’: HERE

Where’d all the stimulus money go?: HERE and HERE

Jesse Jackson, ‘We need more stimulus’: HERE

Hat tip: Jim R, Dad