What do alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets and adult entertainment have in common? These are all things New Yorkers can purchase through the misuse of Electronic Benefit Transfer cards without personal consequences.

The state Assembly let down hardworking New Yorkers last week by failing to penalize the misuse of EBT cards. Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-C-I-Jamestown, introduced an amendment meant to prohibit welfare recipients from using EBT cards to purchase alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets or adult entertainment. The measure, however, did not make its way into the final state budget after failing to gain support from the Assembly’s Democratic majority.

While Goodell had the overburdened taxpayers of Chautauqua County and the rest of the state in mind, clearly most Assembly members did not. By choosing to reject a common-sense amendment, the Assembly has let New Yorkers down once again.

Lawmakers last year enacted the Public Assistance Integrity Act, which holds vendors responsible if welfare recipients misuse EBT cards in their establishments. Goodell’s amendment would’ve held the recipients, as well as the vendors, accountable.

“I think that the whole thrust of our public welfare system ought to be building responsibility on the part of the recipients, and encouraging them to use their welfare benefits in a way that benefits their families,” Goodell said.

When spending hard-earned taxpayer dollars, everyone on both sides of the aisle should be held accountable. EBT cards should help New Yorkers by giving them a hand up. We don’t see how a drunken night out or a taxpayer-funded carton of cigarettes help anyone get back on their feet.

The Assembly’s failure to pass this amendment is partisan politics at its worst.