What great news! Only a fraction of 1 percent of Electronic Benefit Transfer cardholders are stupid enough and/or arrogant enough to use their cards at questionable venues (“LePage: Transaction records show welfare cards abused,” Jan. 8).

The current practice of allowing EBT card holders to get cash at ATMs is little more than a direct subsidy to alcohol and tobacco purveyors. Certainly, most cardholders use them for the intended purpose, but misuse is rampant.

The practice of allowing a direct cash disbursement should cease. Will this cause difficulty in some situations? Yes. Will it plug a gaping hole in the system? Absolutely!

Kurt Christiansen

Windham