Restore Accountability, Combat Fraud, Protect Our Safety Net

Originally published in The Conservateur.

As working mothers, we teach our children simple rules: be honest, take responsibility, and never take what is not yours. These are not abstract ideals. They are the foundation of trust, at home and in society. So, when billions of dollars in public assistance are siphoned off through fraud and abuse, it is more than bad policy. It is a breakdown of those basic rules. The White House has taken a step to address it, launching a multi-agency task force to crack down on fraud across federal programs. But unless states reinforce those same standards of accountability, the problem will continue.

We understand the pressures families face. We balance careers, households, and the responsibility of raising children with strong values. Like millions of Americans, we rely on the promise that public systems are fair and designed to help those in need, not those looking to exploit them.

That promise is breaking down. In Minnesota, more than $185 million in fraudulent daycare payments were uncovered, not by regulators, but by a citizen journalist. In another case, a millionaire testified that he was able to enroll in and receive SNAP benefits despite being ineligible. In Los Angeles, federal authorities arrested individuals allegedly responsible for more than $60 million in Medicare hospice fraud.

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