Simpler answers for EBT abuse

Very interesting article about the abuse of EBT cards in last Friday’s paper (Feb. 4). If the Department of Social and Health Services has the capability to monitor where these cards are being used, why haven’t they simply stopped payment on claims from the places where the cards shouldn’t be used? Why are they replacing lost or stolen cards?

And aren’t the responses typical: (Sen. Mike) Carrell, the politician, wants to create a new office (more government expenses) to do the job that the state auditor’s office and DSHS should already be doing. (Susan) Dreyfus, the bureaucrat, wants to keep the problem “in house” by hiring more staff (again, more expenses) to do what they should already be doing.

I really don’t expect the Legislature to come up with any hard and “fair to the taxpayers” solution. They’re too busy debating if coffee should be the official state beverage.

Then, in Sunday’s paper, we read where many people drawing unemployment will turn down job offers so they can stay on unemployment. Why can’t a potential employer, when they offer a position and it is not accepted, notify the people who are handing out these checks and have the checks terminated?

Bob Sleeth

Spokane