Among the Needy, Car Ownership Can be Key to Moving Up

In the last installment of a three-part series on "Buy Here Pay Here" car dealerships, Ken Bensinger reports on the link between car ownership and income among the poor. Historically, legislation for low-income car ownership has been resisted.

1 minute read

November 4, 2011, 6:00 AM PDT

By Judy Chang


"In many states, welfare laws limit what aid recipients can spend on cars. In California, they can't own a car worth more than $4,650, a dollar value set in the mid-'90s.

That forces people to choose: buy a clunker, or go without a car to remain eligible for public assistance. This month, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill to lift the cap, citing concern over its potential effect on the state budget."

Thursday, November 3, 2011 in Los Angeles Times

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