WMAR Channel 2 reports on food stamp fraud

[KSweeley]

WMAR Channel 2 did a report on food stamp fraud reporting that:

Link: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/loc...#ixzz1sQbvpGED

Cases of beer, cartons of cigarettes, even cold hard cash to buy big-ticket times, is how hundreds of your tax dollars are spent each year in a slick food stamp scheme.

And:

An ABC 2 News investigation has revealed that some of the same vendors who were busted are wrongly readmitted to the program as many as four times. We found nearly a third of the disbarred sites were approved to trade in food stamps again.

With help from store employees, customers can easily game the system. A clerk would ring up a case of beer as a box of cereal or charge $50 on the card and give the customer $25 in return.

The exchange rate favors the store and could bring in a whopping $50,000 extra per month, according to a 2009 federal indictment involving food stamp fraud.

And WMAR has reported that Congress is now involved and allegedly, Kevin Concannon, the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP stated that WMAR's parent company Scripps Howard revealed fraud that the USDA was unaware of until Scripps Howard reported it to the USDA:

Link: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/loc...o-capital-hill

Kevin Concannon, the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, attempted to explain why disqualified vendors still accept food stamps, even after the USDA busts them for fraud – some as many as four times.

“While a vast majority of retailers follow the rules, a few bad actors will always seek to exploit snap,” he commented.

“Scripps Howard exposed fraud you were not aware of, correct?” asked Rep. Issa.

Concannon responded with a simple “correct. ”

I think this is great news that food stamp fraud is finally being cracked down on, however this should have been dealt with before a news investigation revealed this type of fraud.

What's your opinion?

[johnpolitics]

WMAR could have porn stars doing the news and I wouldn't watch. Station is a joke, run on the SUPER CHEAP!

[buzzthefuzz]

WMAR could have porn stars doing the news and I wouldn't watch. Station is a joke, run on the SUPER CHEAP!

They scooped 13 on the RG Steel fire in Dundalk the other night. This looks like another strong article.

[Just Pondering]

War on poverty via food stamps? How about we declare a War on Fraud and Wasteful Spending ?

This would help the truely needy, lower the debt, and help unite a divided country.

[Buford]

War on poverty via food stamps? How about we declare a War on Fraud and Wasteful Spending ?

This would help the truely needy, lower the debt, and help unite a divided country.

That would make too much sense...

[TruthLies]

More tidbits regarding Food Stamps

http://www.factcheck.org/2012/01/new...d-stamp-claim/

[ybnormal]

WMAR Channel 2 reports on food stamp fraud

Nothing new; Nothing done; Gettin' ova prevails. We know it, they know it yet nothing is done about it. Why? Some say it's because the government, due to employee attrition, doesn't have the mony and/or staff to track down all the dirtbags. Sorta like a dog chasing its tail while the hardworking taxpayers continue to fund it. Freakin' highway robbery. End welfare altogether, that sould stop the fraud...as well as tax increase to support it.

[sigmalady]

Rep. Jackie Speier says, “these retailers have violated the law, and we don’t debar them, then shame on us. Anyone want to respond to that?”



Read more: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/loc...#ixzz1sVhkLajp

Heavy duty penalties/jail time for the criminal merchants would stop a lot of this.

[ybnormal]

I remember seeing the checkout clerks at Super Fresh in Woodlawn refusing food stamps for steaks, seafood and other items in violation.

[CIB]

I could care less.
There's much more fraud and waste going on in terms of the robosigning scandal in the real estate industry and in terms of military contracting then the cost of the entire food stamp program.

When the big boys start getting put in orange jumpsuits and held to the same standards as the "little people" than I might give a crap.

[ybnormal]

"The Congressional Budget Office said Thursday that 45 million people in 2011 received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, a 70% increase from 2007. It said the number of people receiving the benefits, commonly known as food stamps, would continue growing until 2014.

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2012/...says/?mod=e2tw

[temptationwalk]

I remember seeing the checkout clerks at Super Fresh in Woodlawn refusing food stamps for steaks, seafood and other items in violation.

I don't believe you. Food stamps. LOL LOL steaks and seafood are not in violation. Well, maybe for black people. When was the last time , you saw food stamps ? Liar Liar LOL LMAO By the way, how do they stop violations at the self service line. Busted LOL

[50defense]

Years ago I had a student explain to me how his mother bought heroin with food stamps...
It was an eye opening experience for this "country boy".

[johnpolitics]

Here's an idea. Change the name of the INDEPENDENCE Card to WELFARE CARD.

[Just Pondering]

Here's an idea. Change the name of the INDEPENDENCE Card to WELFARE CARD.

Here's another idea:

Everyone needs to be a participating tax-paying citizen and have "skin in the game". Do welfare checks and food stamp receipts show gross and net amounts? If not, they should...

Like paychecks, all welfare checks and food stamp receipts should clearly show a "gross amount" and a "net amount", the difference being withholdings that would be refunded after filing a tax return showing measurable "community service credits". You could even get back more than the total withheld if the credits are legitimate. More effort, more money.

The devil is in the details, but I think this could work.

[OldBay]

I've never been one to complain about food stamps because I assumed the programs and participants were properly screened. But last friday, I found myself behind a fairly stunning blonde with two full carts. I admit I paid more attention due to her looks and low-cut blouse. The groceries were being rung up in increments of $100 and paid with a light blue/gray check or voucher that clearly indicated "WIC" on the face. She had 4 of these vouchers. I only had a few fresh veggies, so she was still in the parking lot trying to load all this stuff into her car when I walked past her. It was a new 2012 red Camaro. It struck me that if someone might have a lot of children to have so much food aid and this was hardly a family vehicle. If she was driving a 15 year old minivan full of carseats, it would have made some sense to me. I truly don't want to judge someone unfairly, but this did not look good.

[georjec2]

Food stamps help the economy no matter how they are used. There is no such thing as 'waste' when it comes to food stamps unless they are not used.

Ponder that.

[crabsnbeer]

That is a silly statement Geo. Of course they can be wasted.
But there is no system that can make it 100% foolproof either. Even if they could enforce the purchases perfectly there is nothing to stop people from selling the cards or the item purchased. As a society we have to have programs in place to make sure the poor have food and basic provisions. If that means that some people are going to cheat the system that is ok. The alternative is too bleak.

[Jim F]

Food stamps help the economy no matter how they are used.
.

" Connecticut state employees making $100,000-plus salaries received food stamps after Hurricane Irene.

http://www.stateintegrity.org/connec..._dannel_malloy

This article is a several months old. Tip of the iceberg at the time.
Nice to be a member of the the Government Ruling Class, no?

[georjec2]

That is a silly statement Geo. Of course they can be wasted.
But there is no system that can make it 100% foolproof either. Even if they could enforce the purchases perfectly there is nothing to stop people from selling the cards or the item purchased. As a society we have to have programs in place to make sure the poor have food and basic provisions. If that means that some people are going to cheat the system that is ok. The alternative is too bleak.

How are the wasted if they are feed back into the economy ? You floor.

Give me an example of how they are wasted and I'll show you how they ultimately are not.