Wagner Cautions About Cuts to Welfare

Auditor General Jack Wagner has warned against misspending in Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare for years. But the Democrat has concerns about the House Republicans’ plan to cut $470 million dollar from the department’s budget.

The budget passed by the House last month slightly increases DPW spending over last year’s levels, but trims nearly 5$00 million dollars from Governor Corbett’s initial plan. The cut was based on a four percent error rate in department spending.

Even though Wagner’s audits have pointed to a double-digit mistake rate, he said setting a monetary goal for savings isn’t the right approach. “We think there’s some good ideas for annual, sustainable savings. However, when it comes to welfare you just can’t cut the budget,” he said.
“You have to make administrative changes in how the programs operate.”

Wagner’s worried a simple financial savings goal could have unintended consequences. “During this entire discussion, we have never suggested that one single person who deserves to be part of that program be knocked off that program. We simply want the programs run more efficiently. And they have not been run efficiently in recent years,” he said.

Wagner insisted he still “commends” the House GOP budget, but he urged lawmakers to work with the Corbett Administration to ID specific waste and abuse. Corbett’s DPW Secretary, Gary Alexander, has expressed doubt about finding 470 million dollars in savings.

WIC Provides Checks to Buy PA Produce

Families enrolled in the state’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program are eligible to receive voucher checks for Pennsylvania farmers markets.

Each WIC-enrolled individual can receive four checks worth a total of $20. The money is valid only at markets registered in the state’s Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and is meant to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to families with young children.

Allegheny County Health Department spokesman Guillermo Cole says there are more than 50 registered markets in Allegheny County, but the checks are valid in other counties’ markets as well.

The WIC program runs from June through November of this year. Cole says it helps out both families hoping to eat healthy and farmers who need to sell their crops.

A complete list of authorized farmers markets is available on the Health Department's website.