Ringside Politics With A Punch

A proposal by State Representative John LaBruzzo (R-Metairie) to study the issue of sterilizing poor people as a way of combating poverty has caused an uproar. The broad outline of the plan calls for poor women to receive a $1,000 payment to have their Fallopian tubes tied and for poor men to receive $500 to have a vasectomy. LaBruzzo believes this plan would decrease the number of people receiving welfare benefits. He also noted that it will be completely voluntary. Nonetheless, just the idea of sterilization has motivated critics to cast LaBruzzo as a racist. The Metairie State Representative rejects any charge of racism noting that the plan will mostly impact white people who make up a majority of welfare recipients.
 
Yesterday on the Ringside radio program (WGSO 990 AM 7-11 a.m.) Labruzzo highlighted his concerns about the increasing number of people receiving government benefits. LaBruzzo said that he was motivated to study this issue after seeing long lines of citizens waiting for food stamp benefits after the hurricane. The Metairie State Representative noted that many of the people in line for benefits were driving expensive cars.
 
There is little doubt that government spending is increasing and more people are becoming dependent on public assistance. LaBruzzo is concerned about the generational nature of welfare and the strain that it is causing on taxpayers. He believes that previous tactics have failed, which is why he wants to study sterilization.  
 
While offering economic incentives to sterilize poor people, on the other end of the economic ladder, LaBruzzo wants to give tax incentives to richer families to have more children.
 
LaBruzzo will continue to study this issue for the next few months before deciding whether to introduce legislation next spring. There is little doubt that if LaBruzzo introduces this legislation it will be the most controversial measure in the legislative session.