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State Representative Tony Cornish
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4240
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS RELEASE
REP. CORNISH SUPPORTS STATE WELFARE AUDIT
ST. PAUL – A recent Minnesota House Republican investigation found that more than $10 million was spent last year in other states through the use of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards – which provide cash and food support benefits to Minnesotans.
After reviewing the findings, State Representative Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder) agreed that legislative hearings and an audit of the state’s EBT system are needed.
“Minnesota taxpayers should be outraged that millions of their dollars are being spent in other states,” Cornish said. “EBT cards were designed for people who are in need, but when you see that these cards were used in 49 other states, it makes you wonder just how great the need really is for some of these recipients.”
In 2007, 12.9 million transactions totaling $496,330,741.25 were made. Of those transactions, 309,717 took place in states other than Minnesota for a total of $10,226,758.50.
According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services Web site, misuse of the Minnesota EBT card is unlawful. Defrauding the system or selling an EBT card or pin number to others could result in criminal charges and loss of benefits.
Cornish noted that it is not illegal to use EBT cards in other states, but when more than $10 million of Minnesota’s tax dollars are spent in nearly every state, closer examination into the financial accountability of those transactions is needed.
“These days, most Minnesotans can’t afford a trip to Hawaii, yet people who are claiming our state’s welfare benefits used their Minnesota EBT cards 126 times in that state last year alone,” Cornish said. “To me, the facts point towards welfare abuse, and I think it’s high time we get to the bottom of this situation.”
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