Former Homewood supermarket cashier Cecilia LoCicero recalls seeing shoppers using state Link cards to buy steaks and lobsters, a shopper who fumbled for his second or third card when the first one had no money on it and other customers who took cash back from the cards to buy cigarettes or alcohol.
The Link cards are “abused so much, you just don’t know,” she said.
As state lawmakers mull a plan to study abuse in the food assistance program known as Illinois Link, some say putting users’ photos on the debit card needlessly invades privacy while failing to curb larger abuses. Others believe the program is hobbled by abuse.
We imagine if a real investigation was undertaken, the fraud would be staggering. And this nonsense about having a photograph on the card being embarrassing? Grow up - you're getting free money from working people. You can damn well get over any embarrassment and make sure that OUR money is being spent properly and not funding rock habits, luxury items and international terrorism.