Congressman Buyer Works To Save

Indiana Taxpayers $100 Million;

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) took the State’s case to the House Rules Committee in an attempt to save Indiana over $100 million that it would cost the state.  Legislation moving through the House of Representatives would includes a provision that would cost Indiana over $100 million by not allowing the states already federally approved plan to modernize the Food Stamp program to continue.   

Late yesterday Congressman Buyer testified on behalf of an amendment he offered with Congressman Charles Boustany (R-La.) that would allow states like Indiana, who have already received federal approval to contract certain administrative services for the Food Stamp program.  

“When Governor, Mitch Daniels came into office the State’s administration of child welfare programs was in disrepair.  It had the most child deaths in the foster care system and ranked last in reducing its welfare caseloads.  The Food Stamp program was a paper process and provided poor service.  These are not proud achievements by any measure,” Buyer said. 

Governor Daniels has worked to improve the services to needy Hoosiers and the plan has been approved by HHS and USDA.  The current Welfare System is almost completely paper-based.  Clients can not apply for benefits by means of the Internet, they cannot communicate to their caseworkers by email, and clients can not send electronic versions of their documents to their caseworkers.  County Welfare offices are usually only open during regular office hours, making it extremely difficult for applicants that do have work commitments and child responsibilities, to communicate and receive services; making this a double edge sword.   

The House is expected to have the Farm Bill on the floor Friday.  It includes a provision that would cost Indiana over $100 million by not allowing the states already federally approved plan to modernize the program.   

During consideration by the House Agriculture Committee, an amendment was proposed to the Nutrition Title by two members of the Indiana delegation but it was drafted in such a way that it would not have aided Indiana’s efforts to improve the Food Stamp Program. 

“The standards set forth in the amendment were so onerous that Indiana could not have met them so the amendment would not have helped Indiana.  It would not have alleviated the $100 million cost to taxpayers.  It was a throw-away amendment.  The amendment put the face of the unions ahead of the faces of needy families who need food stamps,” Buyer said. 

Congressman Buyer said the amendment which put unions ahead of Hoosiers was odd because under Indiana’s plan the 1,400 employees were allowed to choose between going with the private contractor, in this case IBM, or stay employed with the state.  According to Indiana, 99% of the employees choose to go work for the contractor so there was no loss of jobs.  In fact, an additional 300 jobs were brought to the state.   

In his testimony before the Rules Committee, Congressman Buyer said, “Current language in the Farm Bill before you proposes new operational requirements on the State Food Stamp Program that will substantially reduce the quality of care and services to needy Hoosiers.  In addition, it will impose approximately $100 million in added costs to Hoosiers.” 

Congressman Buyer said that seeing a program that is in desperate need to be re-orchestrated, the State of Indiana sought alternative resources that will be more efficient with the processing system of the welfare program.  To improve services, Indiana contracted with the private entity to: 

·       perform data collection and electronic filing,

·       research new ways to apply and reach caseworkers, through phone, fax, and internet,

·       ability to access the system 24 hours a day, and

·       implement programs to move welfare recipients to self sufficiency through work. 

State employees will still continue to make final eligibility determinations and there will still be a county office in every county that still allows clients to apply in person.  Eligibility standards will be applied consistently across all the offices. 

“The State’s plan was good for the taxpayer, good for those who work in the program, and most importantly those who receive the benefits,” Buyer said.  “If the current language remains in the bill, Indiana will be left with a failed program that offers no hope to those who rely on the food stamp program for help.  Indiana’s efforts on welfare modernization plans for food stamps, Medicaid, Child Care Vouchers and TANF would be dismantled; making Indiana regress to the failing system it was rising from.  The State has worked to modernize its system and I hope in the end Congress will not prohibit Indiana from moving forward with plans already in place to improve services to our most vulnerable.”

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