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House Passes Bill Revamping KY Assistance Programs

House Passes Bill Revamping KY Assistance Programs
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By The Associated Press
Feb. 22, 2020 | FRANKFORT
By The Associated Press Feb. 22, 2020 | 09:17 AM | FRANKFORT
The Kentucky House has passed a bill to revamp public assistance programs and tighten enforcement to prevent suspected fraud.

The politically divisive proposal cleared the Republican-run House on a 58-32 vote Friday and now heads to the GOP-dominated Senate.

The bill would establish an electronic card through which people would get their benefits, and would cancel assistance for people who repeatedly violate the rules. 

It would also create a new state insurance plan for low-income residents who don't qualify for Medicaid because they make too much money. This would hopefully resolve situations where people don't work more or get better jobs because they would lose Medicaid coverage.

But Democratic lawmakers objected to portions they see as punitive against the poor, saying the low fraud rate doesn't justify the oversight expense.

The bill's sponsors include the House's top two Republican leaders, Speaker David Osborne and Speaker Pro Tem David Meade.
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