State Sen. Jim Tracy

A group of about 30 citizens and several local officials attended a meeting at the Shelbyville/Bedford County Chamber of Commerce where Tracy fielded questions for over an hour before traveling down the road for another meeting in Lynchburg.

One citizen complained about the practice of individuals on food stamps and Families First who use the money for other items other than food or necessities.

Families First is Tennessee's welfare reform program that replaced the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program. It provides temporary cash benefits to families who have children and are experiencing financial difficulties. Participants are time-limited to 60 months within their lifetime.

The federal waiver expired last June 30 and the state currently operates the program in compliance with the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

A woman who said she works as a cashier stated that people on the program were using their cards for buying junk food and items such as stereos, adding the state could save a lot of money by curtailing the practice.

Lisa Cowell, field supervisor for the Department of Human Services, was at the meeting and stated that Families First money is supposed to be used to take care of the children but "when they get that cash, they can do whatever they want to with it."

Tracy suggested passing a law that could restrict persons using the program from buying certain items with the welfare money. Cowell explained the funds for food stamps come from both federal and state sources. She added that a person could buy a loaf of bread with the Families First card, then get the rest back as cash and spend it however they wanted.

"That shouldn't happen," Tracy said. "I have a problem with that."

Cowell added that 9,000 families in Bedford County were on food stamps at an annual cost of $8 million. Immigrants, legal or otherwise, get the benefits for their U.S. born children, but the money goes to the parent. About 60 percent of the food stamps money go to illegal immigrants or those who are here legally, she said.

Several citizens were upset at the practice and compared it to when the federal government gave victims of Hurricane Katrina $2,000 debit cards, many of which were cashed at the nearest casino.

One bill that is moving through the General Assembly now is similar to one passed in Oklahoma that would prevent illegal immigrants from receiving state services and benefits, Tracy said. Several citizens expressed frustration over illegals receiving health care benefits as well.

One citizen had a problem with cuts that have been made in TennCare while Gov. Phil Bredesen spends $10 million for an underground ballroom at the governor's mansion. Tracy agreed, saying that Tennessee taxpayers "don't need it" with this year's tight budget.

Tracy said that all the right of way for the first leg of the Shelbyville bypass has been purchased and bids for the work may be let by the end of this year. He termed the project very important since it would take a lot of the truck traffic off of North Main Street and help economic development in the area where the bypass is slated to be built.