Causer Co-Sponsors 'WelFAIR' Package
Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) today applauded the introduction of a package of bills aimed at bringing much-needed reform to the state’s public welfare system.
“Welfare spending is out of control, and that’s due in large part to people abusing the system,” Causer said. “While the Rendell administration was willing to overlook the significant evidence of waste and fraud uncovered over the last few years, House Republicans are not. The welfare system must be accountable to the taxpayers who fund it.”
The eight-bill package, known as WelFAIR (Fairness, Accountability, Integrity and Responsibility), would reform the welfare system by:
Using photo identification to make sure benefits aren’t misused.
Cross referencing welfare applicants through 19 different databases to confirm eligibility.
Strengthening legal penalties for those who commit welfare fraud.
Preventing applicants from “benefit shopping” in other counties.
Reducing abuse in a welfare program that helps people truly in need get to and from doctor appointments, pharmacy visits, methadone clinics, dialyses treatments, physical therapy and other medical appointments.
Transitioning the fraud-laden special allowance program from grants to a loan-based initiative.
Prohibiting the purchase of tobacco with welfare benefit cards.
Requiring drug felons who apply for welfare benefits to submit to random drug tests.
Causer said evidence of waste, fraud and abuse within the welfare system can be found both in audit reports from Democrat Auditor General Jack Wagner and media stories from across the Commonwealth.
According to audits released by Wagner, one Allegheny County resident was issued 99 different Access cards, the electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards used by welfare recipients. In Philadelphia, a father of five was paid more than $7,000 to babysit his own children, a feat he accomplished by using a fake name and Social Security number.
More recently, a daycare provider in Allegheny County was accused of selling drugs from her facility and accepting welfare EBT cards as collateral for drugs.
For more information about the WelFAIR initiative, visit www.RepCauser.com.
“Welfare spending is out of control, and that’s due in large part to people abusing the system,” Causer said. “While the Rendell administration was willing to overlook the significant evidence of waste and fraud uncovered over the last few years, House Republicans are not. The welfare system must be accountable to the taxpayers who fund it.”
The eight-bill package, known as WelFAIR (Fairness, Accountability, Integrity and Responsibility), would reform the welfare system by:
Using photo identification to make sure benefits aren’t misused.
Cross referencing welfare applicants through 19 different databases to confirm eligibility.
Strengthening legal penalties for those who commit welfare fraud.
Preventing applicants from “benefit shopping” in other counties.
Reducing abuse in a welfare program that helps people truly in need get to and from doctor appointments, pharmacy visits, methadone clinics, dialyses treatments, physical therapy and other medical appointments.
Transitioning the fraud-laden special allowance program from grants to a loan-based initiative.
Prohibiting the purchase of tobacco with welfare benefit cards.
Requiring drug felons who apply for welfare benefits to submit to random drug tests.
Causer said evidence of waste, fraud and abuse within the welfare system can be found both in audit reports from Democrat Auditor General Jack Wagner and media stories from across the Commonwealth.
According to audits released by Wagner, one Allegheny County resident was issued 99 different Access cards, the electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards used by welfare recipients. In Philadelphia, a father of five was paid more than $7,000 to babysit his own children, a feat he accomplished by using a fake name and Social Security number.
More recently, a daycare provider in Allegheny County was accused of selling drugs from her facility and accepting welfare EBT cards as collateral for drugs.
For more information about the WelFAIR initiative, visit www.RepCauser.com.
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