Washington Examiner: Fund the Iran War by Ending Welfare Fraud
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, the Washington Examiner published an op-ed by Les Ford, Senior Fellow at the Alliance for Opportunity, and Andrew McClenahan, Intergovernmental Board Co-Chair at the United Council on Welfare Fraud, highlighting the need to offset the cost of defense funding for Iran by targeting the extensive welfare fraud and waste in the federal government.
WORD ON THE STREET
Excerpts from the Washington Examiner op-ed:
"When Congress returns from Easter recess, it will have one item on its agenda: Paying for the war in Iran. Budget analysts say the president will need $200 billion to finish the job.
"That $200 billion is possible. But with a zero-vote margin in the House, the only realistic option will be to offset that increase by cutting costs elsewhere. Republicans can do that through a reconciliation package.
"Congressional Republicans appear to agree on a clear target: welfare fraud and waste. Three in four likely voters want the federal government to crack down on fraud in welfare programs, especially food stamps. Eliminating fraud is not just a talking point, it is a real way to save billions of dollars.
"The news is filled with examples of welfare fraud: Minnesota childcare centers without children, a New York adult day care center billing $68 million for nonexistent services, a Minneapolis woman fleecing $250 million from a food program for kids, and Mississippi officials diverting $5 million in welfare assistance to build a volleyball arena...
"The real game changer, however, is prevention. Too often, we hear about fraud only after the money is already out the door. Simple reforms could change that.
"Congress should create uniform identity-verification standards for all online government assistance programs so bad actors can’t access benefits in the first place. Other reforms — such as banning self-attestation, opening federal data sources for state data matches, and reforming asset limits so millionaires can’t qualify for welfare benefits — would help ensure aid goes to the people who actually need it...
"If Congress needs to find $200 billion, it should begin where public support is strongest and the moral case is clearest: stopping fraud and waste in welfare programs. Americans do not object to helping people get back on their feet. They object to a system that too often rewards dishonesty, hides failure, and spends billions without proving results. A serious reconciliation bill should reflect that common-sense bargain: Protect the vulnerable, punish the fraudsters, and demand that every taxpayer dollar serve its intended purpose."
Read the full op-ed here.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Congress must provide the President with the resources needed to successfully end the conflict in Iran, and the only realistic way to do that is through reconciliation.
As mentioned in the Examiner op-ed, the funding required can and should be offset where public support is strongest and the moral case is clearest: stopping fraud and waste in federal welfare programs. Republicans’ reconciliation package can fund the mission, deliver affordability relief for Americans, and pay for it through the President’s “War on Fraud.”
