Topeka ? The Kansas Department of Children and Families was criticized by Democrats on Monday for a post on its Facebook page saying “the left” had mocked the state and impeded progress on welfare reform. The agency said the comment was appropriate.

The state Legislature passed a bill in early April barring welfare recipients from spending cash assistance from the state at adult-oriented businesses or other places, including swimming pools, movie theaters, nail salons, tattoo parlors or psychics’ and fortune tellers’ businesses. The measure attracted national attention and derision from some pundits and comedians who claimed it was unnecessary and demeaning to poor people.

The department defended the legislation in a post on its Facebook page Friday, saying it was meant to ensure state assistance money was going to necessities for those who need it.

“While the left is actively mocking the State of Kansas for passing legislation that protects taxpayer dollars and encourages personal responsibility, these are the same individuals who have since 1996, stood in the way of progress, keeping low-income Kansans dependent on assistance,” the post said.

In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, called the post “partisan and combative” and said it “only further demonstrates this administration’s resentment of opposing views.” The leader of a state employees’ union and others also criticized the post.

DCF spokeswoman Theresa Freed said the post “appropriately responded to outrageous political attacks by liberal media organizations and activists with facts.”

She said thousands of welfare recipients have found jobs under the program.