Remember last year’s $1.4 billion increase in Michigan income and business taxes?
Remember how Gov. Jennifer Grahnholm talked about how little more could be done to streamline government operations without hurting working families and Michigan’s vulnerable populations?
Well, this week we learned much more can and must be done to deliver crucial public services in efficient, effective, and accountable fashion.
In the 2.5 years ending in March 2006, Michigan spent $1.1 billion on child care for families living in poverty. The program is designed to provide child care during hours in which mothers and fathers in poverty are working jobs or going to school.
A state audit released this week indicated that during that two-and-a-half year period:
The state doled out and estimated $231 million in “improper” and “potentially fraudulent” child care payments across the state.
Money went to parents who didn’t demonstrate a verified need for the payments and, in some cases, didn’t even request the payments.
Checks were improperly cut to deceased parents and deceased babysitters and even paid for child care for deceased children.
Money went to child care providers who were actually in prison at the time of the supposed child care.
Money went to child care providers who wwer actually working other jobs at the time of the supposed child care.
Money went to supposedly working parents who had no income or documentation that they were actually working.
The Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) is rife with bureaucratic weaknesses and poor oversight practices.
The state’s response? DHS generally agreed with the audit conclusions and blamed the problems, in part, on staffing shortages.
State records show DHS has more than 10,000 employees.
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4 Comments
This is a prime glaring example of the failed liberal, democrat, socialist, experiment mandated and operated by administrative tyranny.
These programs by their very nature are designed to simply give away money. The more given, the more they have helped folks. This is how they rate their success. Never mind the findings in the audit. Michigan is a helpful and kind “touchy-feely” State proved by all the money that was given out to help the downtrodden. Add another 10,000 employees and they can give out much more than double. Of course their budget will have to be tripled to cover all the employees so the corruption can continue. So, what will the Governor and the Legislature do about these findings?
interestingly, this audit was only from Oct 2003 to March 2006. what all was spent improperly before that and then after that?
This other commenter apparently has no idea what the consequences are in reality for cutting out social programs completely.
However, the fact that there was no oversight for any program of a substantial nature is inexcusable.
Also, What is their solution then?
Also, in times where the budget is getting hammered, what fund is this money coming from?
and as for the Republicans that routinely Blather on about cutting off all programs to help people who need it, where were they on this one and where was their sanctimonious oversight and budget picking?
It appears that no one has been seriously looking into this issue or it wouldnt have had an audit done 2 years after the fact, and no solution.
I am in total agreement with Steve. As he mentioned, the other commenter apparently has not idea of the consequences for cutting out social programs totally. Obviously this person has never had a time in their life when they had to use a social program because of some unfortunate and unavoidable circumstances. I have and can stay without a doubt that it was not a pleasant experience and would loathe having to live under the scrutiny that is required to be eligible for any assistance. These social programs for the needy give out a very minimum existence and nothing more…and I know that firsthand.
As for better oversight, how can that happen when their governmental staff is being cut to the barebones?
There is abuse in any system (Social Security in another one where health care providers and durable medical equipment providers abuse that system —does brokengov’t want to cut that “social program” too? ), but you cannot punish everyone because of the ones who are abusers. And then you also have to look at the cost to keep those tight monitors on the social programs.
Sometimes when you find you have a “leaky faucet” you might realize that it would cost you a whole lot more to get and keep it fixed then to let the leaking go on. You always have to weight the benefit to the cost ratio in deciding to “fix” any problems you find.
Free Anything, anytime people can get something for nothing or the government gives anything out. You can be assured there is some who will abuse it. Cheating, lying and stealing is the way of life today for so many. this is from top to bottom of the latter. Crooked people lead to crooked politicans and public employees throughout our society.