Moronic stimulus stunt of the day

By Michelle Malkin

Oh. For. Crying. Out. Loud. From Washington state, here’s your moronic stimulus stunt of the day:

OLYMPIA, Wash. —
The state of Washington sent out $1 checks to the 250,000 food stamp recipients in the state.

The director of the Community Services Division for the Department of Social and Health Services, Leo Ribas, says the checks mailed Feb. 17 trigger an additional $43 million in federal food benefits. They also connect recipients to an energy assistance program.

Ribas says the $1 check is a one-time move to leverage the federal money. He says next year the state will be able to trigger the federal assistance through a routine deposit in food stamp accounts.

A commenter notes: “Well bulk rate is about 26 cents. Envelop another 5-10 cents. Plus printing at 5-10 cents a copy. Plus handling. I’m sure [the cost to send the checks] was as much if not more then the food stamps.”

Amber Gunn of EFF/Washington adds: “To top it off, a lot of recipients of these checks do not have bank accounts so the fee to cash the check is greater than the check itself (usually $2 to $5). Genius.”