CAGW Report: Food Stamp Expansion and Fraud

Citizens Against Government Waste has it's latest report out on food stamp expansion and fraud in America. It seems that one in seven Americans are getting SNAP (food stamp) benefits, which is a substantial increase from previous years. In Oregon however, one in five Oregonians are on the public dole in SNAP, including many college students. 

Oregon has done so well at signing up more of our population (780,000 people living here) than most other states, that we received a five million dollar bonus from the Feds in 2011, after receiving over a 2 million dollar bonus in 2010. In fact, Oregon's aggressive marketing programs (made easier by the Obama administration's loosening of eligibility rules) have lead to an 60% increase in food stamp recipients in our state since 2008. 


But don't expect the slowly improving economy to lessen those who are dependent on government for their food, because the Feds have given Oregon a waiver to make it even easier to sign up for food stamps online without having to be interviewed! Does this make it easier to commit fraud like these folks did? This is especially worrisome since state officials confirmed 1500 cases of food stamp fraud in 2009, yet only convicted 11 people of these taxpayer abuses. And with inside corruption from state employees like this, the stage is set for even more food stamp fraud, a bureaucratic crime wave as the WSJ OPED points out last year. 


So in conclusion, at least one thing is certain. With Obama's desire to have more Americans dependent on government programs like SNAP, Oregon Capitol Watch will have lots of waste, fraud and corruption to write about in the future!