PA; Bill to require I.D for state benefits!
Senate pushes ID requirement for state benefits
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
By Tom Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
HARRISBURG -- Lt. Gov. Joe Scarnati, a Republican, disagrees with Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, over whether a better system to prove residency is needed for anyone getting public benefits such as Medicaid, cash assistance and unemployment compensation.
Mr. Scarnati, who is also the top Republican in the Senate, said today he will try again with Senate Bill 9, which would require the Department of Public Welfare to positively establish that anyone getting these benefits is legally in the United States, has a permanent residence and isn't an illegal alien.
Mr. Scarnati said a recent audit by state Auditor General Jack Wagner found that at least 2 percent of those receiving property tax or rent rebates, welfare payments, Medicaid and jobless benefits aren't legally residing in Pennsylvania. Mr. Scarnati claimed that "10s of millions" could be improperly being paid out by the welfare department.
"The department must, during every applicant's interview, verify that the applicant is legally residing in the state," he said. "We must make sure tax dollars are used wisely."
The Senate's State Government Committee today approved the bill and sent it to the full Senate.
The Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, approved the bill last year, but it didn't get through the House, which is controlled by Democrats. If it were to be approved, it would face a hard time with Mr. Rendell.
Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said the welfare department "reviewed the auditor general's audit (of the public benefits) and found it to be faulty. Virtually everyone that received benefits was found to have been eligible."
First published on March 24, 2009 at 12:23 pm
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