By Matt Murphy
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JULY 27, 2012....Gov. Deval Patrick on Friday afternoon signed legislation restricting certain purchases by recipients of public cash assistance benefits and vetoed a bill that would require vehicle registration applicants to show proof of legal residency.
Though the governor signed the EBT reform bill banning the use of public benefits for things like alcohol, pornography and firearms and said he supported most of the bill, he warned lawmakers that his administration would not enforce the ban in establishments where the technology does not exist to differentiate between acceptable and prohibited purchases.
"I sign this bill with the understanding and on due notice that this administration will not enforce what cannot be enforces with respect to the use of EBT cards," Patrick wrote to the Legislature in his veto letter.
In response, Seth Gitell, a spokesman for House Speaker Robert DeLeo said, "We applaud the governor for signing the EBT reform legislation into law and expect him to fully enforce it."
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