Welfare beneficiaries in Massachusetts spent taxpayer dollars while traveling to tropical getaway destinations and in states that are thousands of miles away from New England.
According to a request for public records, taxpayer-funded EBT cards were utilized in California, Florida, Alaska, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and a number of other states in the country.
Hawaii Spending
More than $3 billion in government and state dollars were given out to beneficiaries in the blue state in Fiscal Year 2024.
According to a report by the Boston Herald, there were 32 EBT card charges from citizens from Massachusetts in Hawaii this year, with the largest expenditure being $378 in March on Maui.
State Spending
Another popular tourist destination in Hawaii, Hilo, which is known for its stunning waterfalls and lush rainforest saw a $351 expenditure in the report. EBT funds were also used in Honolulu, Pearl City, Princeville, Waikoloa, and Captain Cook, according to public records.
Massachusetts’ EBT dollars were spent in pretty much every state in the U.S.
EBT Expenditures
EBT expenditures from Massachusetts residents were found in 165 urban cities and towns in California and in 293 areas in Florida, the report said.
More than a dozen expenditures were likewise reported in the Virgin Islands and in Alaska this year, which included a $395 charge in the largest city of Anchorage.
“Insanity and Government at its Worst”
Ryan Fattman, a Republican state senator, referred to the findings of the report as “insanity and government at its worst.”
He reported to The Herald, “This makes no sense… What the hell is someone doing in Hawaii? We need this money to help feed families. This tells me there’s a major problem with this system.”
EBT Restrictions
There are limitations on what the EBT funds can be utilized for. Among other restrictions, they cannot be used to purchase alcohol, firearms or ammunition, pornography, recreational marijuana, lottery tickets, or gambling.
Use while traveling must likewise be approved, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance said. Benefits may be terminated if you fail to comply.
“Meet Their Most Basic Needs”
The DTA stated in a release to Fox News Digital, “Individuals receiving public assistance through the Department of Transitional Assistance use these benefits to meet their most basic needs and qualify by having an annual income that is at least 200 percent below the federal poverty level.”
“State and federal laws regulate what can be purchased with benefits and where purchases can be made, and any out-of-state usage beyond approved temporary absences can result in an individual no longer receiving assistance due to not meeting Massachusetts residency requirements.”
$11 Billion in Assistance
More than $11 billion in food and financial help has been given to qualifying citizens in the last three monetary years, the Herald report stated.
Massachusetts is a sanctuary state and permits migrant’s admittance to these government assistance programs. Since 2021, an estimated 50,000 illegal immigrants have arrived in the state.
Cost of the Migrant Crisis
The state’s migrant crisis would cost taxpayers $1.8 billion over the next two years, according to a recent report from The Center for Immigration Studies.
Medicaid, food stamps provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and other public services are available to migrants.
“Costs That Will Accumulate”
The CIS director of policy studies Jessica Vaughan stated, “The cost to Massachusetts taxpayers of temporary housing and shelters is enormous. “
“But it pales in comparison to the costs that will accumulate in the future if those in the temporary shelters today remain in the Commonwealth for the long term.”
Restrictions Imposed
The CIS report says that the state has already spent over $1 billion on the Emergency Assistance (EA) sheltering program which houses migrants.
Restrictions were placed on shelter programs in order to prioritize state residents and manage the growing number of migrants by Democratic Governor Maura Healey. 10,000 migrants were reported to be minors with 8,500 being unaccompanied.
“Lack the Education or Skills”
According to the report the new arrivals “lack the education or skills needed for an individual or family to be self-sufficient in Massachusetts.”
Over 450,000 Massachusetts residents have limited English-language proficiency according to a separate report by MassInc and UMass Donahue.
In June Healey sent state officials to the Texas border “to educate [migrants] about the lack of shelter availability in Massachusetts.”
