Our Senator Vitter felt the need to email his constituents Tuesday, March 26, 2013 11:21 AM to let us know his valiant stand
against "Free Cell Phones for Welfare Recipients."
This program began under President Reagan, continued through
the administrations of Presidents Bush the Elder, Clinton, and Bush
"Dubya", and has been recently modified by President Obama. The "Lifeline Assistance" program
created in 1984 provided landlines (and thus a connection of last resort to
emergency services, job prospects and family members) in even the poorest
homes.
As cellphone use spread and landline use dropped, the
program was modified in 2008 under President Bush (before Obama took
office). The requirement was that
recipients had to be on Medicaid, food stamps or another state or federal
welfare program. Unfortunately, the
program never required proof from the cell carriers that their millions of
Lifeline users were truly needy.
When Obama's FCC in 2012 required the carriers verify
Lifeline users actually needed aid, the program was found to be riddled with
fraud. About 41% of Lifeline cell
subscribers turned out not to be eligible.
So, the FCC will be cutting the Lifeline rolls thereby the cost of the
program.
Apparently, Senator Vitter feels that is not enough so he
wants to remove cellphones from people on Medicaid, food stamps or another
state or federal welfare program. He
wants to make it harder for them to find jobs, connect with potential
employers, check with the children’s teachers, make medical appointments, and
maybe even calling 911.
The Lifeline program is a valid use of federal funds (our
dollars collected through the Universal Service Fund fee on our monthly phone
bill) to help those at the bottom of our economy.
Also, the program includes 250 minutes of use per month –
not unlimited minutes.
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