A Seattle investigation showed that in the span of one year, people using state-issued welfare debit cards withdrew about $2 million from ATMs at Washington casinos.
Furthermore, it determined that DSHS issued replacement cards, with no questions asked, to people who claimed to have lost theirs.
Each month last year, the department handed out an average of 27,000 replacement cards. Some 20,000 people had cards replaced three times or more, and nearly 100 had their cards replaced at least 20 times. It also documented cards being sold on the street and on the website Craigslist.
The welfare chief said that the department replaced the cards so quickly because it wanted to provide good service and convenience to the state’s poorest residents. He also suggested that just because the money was withdrawn in casinos doesn’t mean it was spent there, and it might cost more to investigate apparent fraud than the state could recoup.It’s not his money.He doesn’t care; but do we?
When do we say enough?
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