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Efforts to stop welfare abuse are underway in congress and the state legislature.

Food stamps and most cash assistance are placed on government issued debit cards. Reports of some recipients using the cards at strip clubs and casinos are beginning to surface. Representative Scott Plakon says when he heard how some recipients are using their benefits he decided to take action.

“They are being used in Las Vegas and Hawaii, and they are being used in strip clubs, liquor stores and other place. So Senator Storms and I put the bill together and we hope it moves forward,” said Plakon.

Plakon’s bill would also ban food stamps from being used to by junk food, but that provision will likely be removed in a compromise to move the bill through the legislative process.