A California state senator has proposed a bill that seeks to decriminalize some welfare fraud. Legislation that, if passed, will likely only embolden those who are scamming the system, another great idea from the party of crime.
State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, a Los Angeles Democrat, introduced Senate Bill 560 which would “delete criminal penalties for welfare fraud below $25,000, and delete a provision for criminal penalties for any attempt at welfare fraud below $950,” Fox News reported, citing the bill which was introduced in February and is set for a hearing on May 5.
NEW: California Democrat state senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas has introduced SB560, a bill that would decriminalize welfare fraud below an amount of $25,000. It would also prohibit prosecutions for attempted welfare fraud and would prohibit someone from being charged w/ perjury if… pic.twitter.com/nYnyfQm0vV
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 28, 2025
“California’s safety net should lift families up, not trap them in poverty,” the left-wing lawmaker told Fox News Digital. “Right now, a missed deadline or paperwork mistake can lead to felony charges that tear families apart — even when there’s no intent to deceive.”
Smallwood-Cuevas said that the bill “offers a smarter, more humane approach by allowing counties to resolve most overpayment cases administratively, holding people accountable without criminalizing poverty.”
“The bill would require a county human services agency to determine whether benefits were authorized as a result of an error in the Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) and prohibit the agency from referring a case for criminal action if benefits were authorized in error,” according to the SB560 text.
The bill also “would prohibit a person from being subject to criminal prosecution” in certain circumstances, one being the overpayment of benefits.
“This bill is about keeping families out of the criminal justice system from making administrative errors on raising the threshold for welfare fraud prosecutions,” the Democrat said in a post to Instagram earlier this month.
Smallwood-Cuevas’ bill only further reinforces the perception that the Democrats are the party of lawbreakers – a brand that they oddly seem to be proud of – and sparked backlash from X users.
California Democrats favor criminals, not taxpayers. https://t.co/L9C8bl3Yvd
— Lance Christensen (@lancelands) April 29, 2025
To….encourage more welfare fraud???
— Natali Morris (@natalimorris) April 28, 2025
Only a Democrat would introduce a bill to decriminalize fraud. How pathetic.
— Florida Pureblood ✝ (@Floridared1776) April 29, 2025
Why do democrats like fraud and refuse to stop it?
— Brent D Gifford (@brentdgifford) April 29, 2025
These idiots never learn. They opened the floodgates on retail theft and sat with a stupid look on their faces as retailers shuttered locations.
Too bad there’s no one to shutter @GavinNewsom ‘s government. Legalizing theft of public money.
Stuck on stupid.@Lola_Smallwood
— Robert Miller (@rjnwmill) April 28, 2025
decriminalizing shoplifting to $900 encouraged more shoplifting.
— Carry (@boatgirl3) April 28, 2025
Only a California Democrat sees $24,999 in welfare fraud and calls it ‘justice.’ https://t.co/LEVvOSZ3my
— George Andrews (@GeorgeAndrewsCA) April 28, 2025
You can’t say the Democrats don’t know their voters.
— GBob (@Fleetduck) April 29, 2025
“I spent more than two decades working as a labor organizer and civil rights activist before my election to the State Senate. It is my privilege to serve California’s residents by presenting legislation that will create a more equitable economy for working families,” Smallwood-Cuevas proclaims on her website.
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