Media Alert: On the Air with WGBH’s “Greater Boston”

Tonight I will be appearing on WGBH-TV’s “Greater Boston” with host Emily Rooney to discuss a state auditor’s report that revealed several disturbing and outrageous oversight issues concerning the administering of public benefits by the Department of Transitional Assistance.

Please tune in to Channel 2 tonight at 7:00pm to watch what will surely be a lively discussion. Greater Boston also re-airs at midnight.

Senate Republican Caucus Seeks Responsible Spending Measures to FY’14 State Budget

On the eve of the Massachusetts State Senate’s debate of a Senate Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal to Fiscal Year 2014 that had garnered over 700 amendments, the Senate Republican Caucus have filed several amendments that would put controls and cuts on taxes, raise revenue without raising taxes, and promote responsible spending measures and fiscal discipline.

Despite the laudable efforts of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means to level fund or reduce the funding for more than 300 line items, the overall cost of the budget now before us represents a 4.4% increase for Fiscal Year 2014 over the current year.  Given the uncertainty of the continuing economic recovery and the proposed $350 million withdrawal from the stabilization fund, we need to exhaust every option to save money, capture efficiencies, boost economic growth and generate revenue that doesn’t come from tax increases.

Unfortunately the committee’s budget proposal does not offer meaningful reforms to public subsidy and government welfare programs that are wracked with fraud and government waste.  Seeking to provide safeguards on such precious and needed programs, the Senate Republican Caucus offered several amendments aimed to achieve that goal.  Those amendments include:

•           Amendment #76 would allow the Attorney General to seek recovery of any previously issued public assistance benefits from a recipient convicted under state or federal law for the use of a weapon of mass destruction, with the recovered money going to benefit the victims of the acts of terror.

•           Amendment #549 would require all future EBT cards issued by the Department of Transitional Assistance to include the fraud detection phone number and web address.

•           Amendment #573 would authorize the Department of Transitional Assistance to terminate the benefits of recipients of welfare benefits if their mailing address becomes unknown.  The amendment would also prohibit the Department of Transitional Assistance to continue using numerical placeholders instead of valid social security numbers for a prolonged period of time.

•           Amendment #583 requires the nearly operational Integrated Eligibility System (IES) maintained by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to cross-check social security numbers of applicants from state and federal data sources and to track eligibility of public subsidies.

Our system of public assistance provides needed help to those in difficult economic circumstances, and we need to ensure that every dollar we allocate to that purpose gets to them, rather than being consumed by any waste, fraud or abuse.

Other amendments filed by the Senate Republican Caucus include cuts to the budget, jobs creation incentives, meaningful reforms to higher education funding, and revenue gains provided by online gaming.  Some of those proposals include:

•           Amendment #157 creates a job incentive tax credit eligible to companies that increase their net employment figures in the Commonwealth.

•           Amendment #143 would require certain government agencies, departments, and offices to reduce its spending by 1% for Fiscal Year 2014.

•           Amendment #330 would provide tuition and fee waivers for Massachusetts veterans and active duty service members who are permanent and legal residents of the Commonwealth.

•           Amendment #346 level funds several public university and state schools line items and places the FY14 budget proposal increases to be placed in a special fund to be distributed on merit based measures such as graduation rates, improved operation efficiencies, and increased academic successes.

•           Amendment #123 would create 4 online gaming licenses to be made available to the 3 fully licensed casinos and the single slot parlor, and tax online gaming revenue at a rate of 20%, placing Massachusetts in the forefront of an evolving industry.

The amendments filed by the Senate Republican Caucus are part of an initiative to make government more efficient.

If you would like to read the actual text of these amendments and the amendments filed by all the members of the Senate, please click here.

Media Alert: ‘Nightside’ with Dan Rea

Tonight Senator Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) and I will be guests on WBZ 1030AM’s ‘Nightside’ with Dan Rea. We will be discussing with host Dan Rea Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card and illegal immigration reforms contained within the FY’2013 State Budget.

To learn more about the issue, please click here to view a previous Tarr Talk post. Please tune in at 8:00pm tonight or click here to listen to our lively discussion.

Media Alert: On the Air with the Jeff Katz Show and the Fox 25 Morning News

Tomorrow morning at approximately 7:05AM Senator Richard Moore and I will be speaking with Jeff Katz of the Jeff Katz Show on Talk 1200AM Boston to discuss EBT and immigration reform veto overrides. To read more about the issue please click here, and don’t forget to tune it or click here to listen to tomorrow’s segment.

Also, tomorrow morning I will be a guest on the Fox 25 Morning News segment “Tolman and Gray”, where I will join political analyst and former State Senator Warren Tolman to discuss the latest political topics of the day. Please tune in at approximately 7:55AM to watch what will surely be a lively discussion.

Calling for EBT, Immigration Reform Veto Overrides

Today House Minority Leader Bradley Jones and I sent the following letter to Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, requesting that the budget vetoes made by Governor Patrick regarding EBT and immigration reforms reach the floors of the House and Senate for override votes: TARR, JONES 2012.07.10 FY13 Budget Veto Letter to President, Speaker

Senate GOP Caucus hails EBT, immigration reforms

The Massachusetts Senate Republican Caucus today welcomed a series of reform measures targeting abuses in the state’s public benefits programs, cracking down on unlicensed drivers, and expanding the use of immigrant status verification systems for MassHealth applicants, which they have fought to include in the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The reforms were included in the Conference Committee report on the $32.5 billion Fiscal Year 2013 state budget, which was approved today by the Legislature. These reforms reflect many of the Caucus’ priorities initiated during the Senate budget debate in May.

The reforms included in the budget target two of the biggest problems we as a Caucus have been trying to address: the misuse of Electronic Benefit Transfer cards and the public safety issues raised by unlicensed drivers, including those who are in this country illegally. For too long, individuals who do not qualify for public assistance have been receiving taxpayer-funded benefits, sometimes at the expense of those who truly need help. At the same time, unlicensed drivers continue to pose a serious public safety threat to all law-abiding citizens. The changes approved by the House and Senate today will help protect those residents who choose to play by the rules while punishing those individuals who would rather manipulate the system for their own advantage.

Some of the Caucus reforms incorporated in the final budget include:

• expanded restrictions on the types of products and services that can be purchased with EBT cards, including a ban on tattoos, gambling and jewelry;

• increased penalties for unlawful purchases made with EBT cards, up to and including the potential loss of direct cash assistance;

• fines for individuals and organizations that traffick in food stamps;

• the establishment of a direct vendor payment program at the Department of Transitional Assistance for recipients who fail to pay rent and/or utilities on time;

• the creation of an independent commission to study and report on the development of a cashless payment system for EBT cards by December 31, 2012;

• a requirement that the Inspector General conduct a data match survey involving the case records for households receiving cash assistance benefits to identify inconsistent or contradictory information that might indicate fraud or abuse;

• a requirement that applicants provide a license, Social Security number, or other proof of legal residence when registering a motor vehicle;

• increased penalties for knowingly employing an unlicensed individual as a motor vehicle operator, or an individual whose license has been suspended or revoked

• expanded penalties for stealing, forging or counterfeiting a learner’s permit, license or ID card; and

• a requirement that MassHealth begin utilizing the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system by July 31, 2013 to verify the immigration status of all applicants who apply for benefits with an alien admission number or alien file number

The budget now heads to Governor Deval Patrick, who will have 10 days to review the spending proposal and to issue any vetoes.

Media Alert: On the Air with Emily Rooney

I will be appearing on WGBH-TV’s “Greater Boston” with host Emily Rooney tonight to discuss my ongoing efforts to reform the state’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards program. Joining me in the studio will be State Representative Shaunna O’Connell (R-Taunton), who was recently named to a special commission charged with investigating reported abuses within the EBT program and developing recommendations to stop this illegal activity and preserve the integrity of the system. The commission is due to report back with its findings by April 1st. Be sure to tune in to Channel 2 at 7 p.m., or watch the show when it re-airs at midnight.

Discussing EBT Fraud

Yesterday I had the opportunity to discuss with Fox 25 Morning News Anchor Shannon Mulaire actions taken by the legislature to limit the abuse of electronic benefit transfer cards (EBT Cards) and additional steps I have proposed. Posted below is yesterday’s segment.

Also, in today’s edition of the Gloucester Daily Times is an editorial discussing the need to increase accountability of state welfare programs. The editorial highlights a bill that I filed that would tighten the oversight of the EBT Cards program. To read today’s editorial please click here.

EBT Card Fraud Renewed Call to Pass EBT Card Bill: MyFoxBOSTON.com

Media Alert: On the Air with Dan Rea

Tonight at 8:00pm on WBZ Radio (AM1030) I will be discussing with host Dan Rea the abuse of EBT Cards (Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards) and measures the state needs to take to prevent the misuse of the taxpayer funded program. A bill I sponsored, “An Act Preventing the Misuse of Public Funds”, was heard on Tuesday by the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities.

Posted below is a letter I sent to the members of the committee regarding my bill. Please click here or tune in to WBZ-Radio (1030 AM) at 8:00pm to listen to tonight’s broadcast.

Letter to the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilties