7-23-13 food stamp trafficking

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law a measure designed to help crack down on food stamp trafficking.  The bill that passed with bipartisan support in the Legislature would expand definitions in state law of what constitutes illegal food stamp trafficking.  Walker signed it privately in the Capitol on Monday.  The law brings Wisconsin into line with the federal government's new expanded definition of food stamp trafficking. That refers to the illegal buying, selling or transferring of food stamp benefits for cash or other unlawful purposes.  Trafficking occurs in most cases when food stamp recipients sell their benefit cards online and in the open market and then apply for free replacements.  In any given month about 15 percent of Wisconsin's population, or 850,000 people, receive food stamp benefits.