South Dakota Governor: States Need to Come Clean on SNAP Fraud

Originally published in Newsweek.

Our most fundamental duty as citizens is to steward our nation’s resources well.

Everything we have is an inheritance from those who came before us, and we are tasked with handing on a national legacy that’s even stronger. One practical example of a resource that should be managed with care is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). For one, it costs taxpayers $100 billion a year. And two, it’s intended to supplement grocery budgets with nutritious foods for families in need. We should take great pride that such a program exists, but that should inspire diligence in its oversight.

As Governor of South Dakota, I am responsible for managing our state. Our state is strong, safe, and free—and it’s my duty to keep it that way. I want our state to be an example to the nation of good governance. So, when U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins requested states turn over data on how they manage SNAP, every governor had a moral obligation to comply. Taxpayers deserve it and federal law requires it.

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