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	Dollars for Welfare, Spent on Gambling By Senator Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad) A report released last week found that state-issued debit cards, meant to support those most in need of government assistance, were used to withdraw money from casino ATMs across the state. At the expense of taxpayers, welfare recipients cashed out almost $2 million dollars from casino floors during the last year. This reckless example of wasteful spending should be another striking call for action and reform in Sacramento. Californians want leadership from the legislature, not liberal politicians content on business-as-usual. We need a responsible government that will provide oversight and ensure that money is spent prudently and with purpose, not on poker. I have proposed a package of laws that will force officials to examine state expenditures and audit all programs to ensure that negligent spending doesn’t continue. Politicians cannot continue abusing taxpayers by spending their money on programs full of fraud and abuse. I will keep fighting to hold government accountable and I hope that my colleagues in the majority will start doing the same. Senator Mark Wyland represents the people of the 38th Senate District, which includes cities in north San Diego County and the south Orange County cities of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Senator Mark Wyland 1910 Palomar Point Way, Suite 105 Carlsbad, California 92008 760.931.2455 Office email: senator.wyland@sen.ca.gov Welfare Cash Abused in Casinos and Strip Clubs, Yet Democrats Refuse to Reduce Spending By Assemblyman Martin Garrick June 30th marked the end the fiscal year, and yet the state once again is faced with a $19.1 billion budget deficit and no spending plan. Forthe last 100 days, Assembly Republicans have been calling for Democrats to negotiate toward a balanced, responsible, no-tax budget. Unfortunately, the Assembly Speaker recently directed all of his members to not negotiate on the already overdue state budget until the Governor backs away from his plan to reduce state spending. Ironically, one of the biggest government programs that the Democrats have been defending is making a lot of news of its own this week. The L.A. Times is in the middle of a series of stories about the appalling abuse of taxpayer dollars in California’s welfare program. They revealed that state welfare recipients used taxpayer-funded ATM cards to withdraw nearly two million dollars at California casinos over the last eight months. They even found welfare recipients withdrawing taxpayer cash at strip clubs. This is beyond disappointing - it is disgusting! Fortunately, the Governor’s budget plan would end cash benefits for welfare recipients. It is past time for the Democrats to get serious about cutting waste, fraud and abuse, and following the Governor's approach to a balanced, responsible, no-tax budget.