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ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)
Sun May 1, 2016, 02:55 PM May 2016

State Workers (NM) Admit Denying Food Assistance to Qualifying Families...

Also, does no one employ editors these days?

http://abc13.com/news/state-workers-admit-denying-food-stamps-to-families/1317409/

ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- Several state employees admitted to falsifying information on food stamp applications in an attempt to deny assistance to eligible families.

Officials in New Mexico say they were shocked to hear employees of the state's Human Services department would work against those who needed help the most.

"This is something we've never heard before, but according to workers, has been going on for quite some time," says Sovereign Hager with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.

In federal court, five workers said they were pressured to falsify applications for assistance by stating families had more than $100 in assets when they had less than that or none at all.


...and shame on the media for the graphic of a person purchasing soda. Just keep feeding into stupid RWer ideas.
17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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State Workers (NM) Admit Denying Food Assistance to Qualifying Families... (Original Post) ScreamingMeemie May 2016 OP
Shocked, I tell you.... louis-t May 2016 #1
That is one of the enlightenment May 2016 #2
^^^THIS^^^ 2naSalit May 2016 #3
Each time we see one of these so called Wellstone ruled May 2016 #5
I love how people like yourself are able to FlatBaroque May 2016 #8
I wondered why they would do that WhiteTara May 2016 #4
This is bad Proud Liberal Dem May 2016 #6
at least we're getting rid of our Republican governor Jeffersons Ghost May 2016 #7
We can but hope such is true....(nt) So Far From Heaven May 2016 #17
With all the "free stuff" memes here angrychair May 2016 #9
Well they don't like free stuff...unless it is for them and them alone. Rex May 2016 #10
Sorry Rex angrychair May 2016 #11
Just extending on what you just said. Rex May 2016 #13
Agreed angrychair May 2016 #14
Thanks for the wonderful insight! We don't talk about that much imo. Rex May 2016 #15
I think this happens in Pennsylvania, also..... mrmpa May 2016 #12
Some of these people seem to think it is their own money! Scruffy Rumbler May 2016 #16

enlightenment

(8,830 posts)
2. That is one of the
Sun May 1, 2016, 03:05 PM
May 2016

most subliminally biased (barely subliminal) articles I've seen lately.

The text is presumably exposing the corruption of the state workers, but all the imagery and links undermine - without any explication - the story and point fingers at the people seeking aid.

Buying soda (which, in assistance terms, is worse than buying booze).
Embedded video of a man who was defrauding assistance programs.
Embedded link, with photo, of lobster and steak - with unstated suggestion that people on assistance regularly purchase these food items that they don't 'deserve' - because they are poor.

Whoever put that page together should be ashamed to call themselves journalists - they're just suckling the RW teat with that crap.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
5. Each time we see one of these so called
Sun May 1, 2016, 03:23 PM
May 2016

investigative stories,one has to research the source of and what is the real story. This is a ABC/Disney affiliate,what is really going on,and as we know,New Mexico is about to flip to a Blue State. Okay,is this another hit piece done to disenfranchise a major population group,or is this a piece to juice local ratings? Believe this Media outlet was recently bought by Sinclair Broadcasting,which is about Right Wing as one can get.

FlatBaroque

(3,160 posts)
8. I love how people like yourself are able to
Sun May 1, 2016, 03:59 PM
May 2016

quickly and accurately decode so much of the subliminal messaging. It means we are getting more sophisticated in filtering out the noise.

WhiteTara

(29,676 posts)
4. I wondered why they would do that
Sun May 1, 2016, 03:22 PM
May 2016

Workers say they did this when they couldn't meet the seven-day deadline for processing emergency applications.

"It makes the state's numbers appear artificially high, as if they were processing things according to law," Hager says, "when in fact, they aren't."

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,355 posts)
6. This is bad
Sun May 1, 2016, 03:53 PM
May 2016

What is also bad is states (mostly red ones) making it harder LEGALLY (i.e. tightening requirements and/or requiring intrusive processes) for low-income families to get assistance.

Jeffersons Ghost

(15,235 posts)
7. at least we're getting rid of our Republican governor
Sun May 1, 2016, 03:54 PM
May 2016

Donald Trump, the current GOP front-runner in election 2016, will select Susana Martinez, the governor of New Mexico, as his vice presidential running mate, assuming Trump wins the Republican nomination.

Given that Hillary Clinton is his likely (but not 100 percent certain) opponent, and that The Donald has been accused of misogyny, it seems essential to put a woman on the Trump ticket.

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/2739987/meet-donald-trumps-vice-president-pick/#F6FIY528ggDobj2R.99

http://www.inquisitr.com/2739987/meet-donald-trumps-vice-president-pick/

angrychair

(8,594 posts)
9. With all the "free stuff" memes here
Sun May 1, 2016, 04:27 PM
May 2016

I figured a certain camp of people would like this story. With all the time spent by some trafficking in "free stuff" memes against poor and struggling people, I would think they would see this a preferred outcome.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
13. Just extending on what you just said.
Sun May 1, 2016, 04:45 PM
May 2016

I've noticed people that complain the most about others getting 'free stuff', don't seem to mind if it is them getting 'free stuff'! They love 'free stuff'!

angrychair

(8,594 posts)
14. Agreed
Sun May 1, 2016, 04:51 PM
May 2016

That is usually how it works. I appreciate the follow-up. I thought that was what you meant but wanted to be sure. Thank you!

mrmpa

(4,033 posts)
12. I think this happens in Pennsylvania, also.....
Sun May 1, 2016, 04:45 PM
May 2016

it happened to me, they tried. I applied for medical assistance. At the Free Clinic I went to, they had an advocate from the YWCA available to help with the process. The volunteer and I were with each other close to an hour. When the information had been sent via the State forms and electronically submitted, I was told and it was written down, what documentation I had to send to the State.

Within 2 days I faxed all the documentation. Within 3 days, I had a letter from the State saying I would be phoned on a certain date between the hours of 9 am and 12 noon for a phone interview. The call was to be to my cell phone which is on 24/7.

That date came and went with no phone call. Within 2 days of that date I received a letter stating that since I had been contacted but was not available for the phone interview my request had been denied. There was never any phone call.

I called the 800 number for the State, gave my grievance and was told that I would be contacted within 24 hours, and to disregard the second letter. I was not contacted within 24 hours. I again called the 800 number & they could see that I had previously called the 800 number, but could find no evidence that anyone had tried to contact me.

I took matters into my own hands. I called the local office and left 3 messages within 6 hours. Finally the manager for the office called me. She was vehement that 1. I had never faxed any information and 2. That someone had called me, but I told them I could not do the interview. I told her bluntly, that that was a lie. She then said, are you saying someone in my office is lying, I said yes.

I then told her, I don't care that it's 4:30 pm, we'll do the interview now. Well we did, and I was insistent that she look for the faxed information. She did find it, and we did the interview.

What pissed me off, was at some point she gleaned what my educational level is (Masters Degree), and said well you seem to more intelligent than most applicants. GRRRRRR

If this is what they think & how they treat applicants, they need to be fired, or they need to quit.

Scruffy Rumbler

(961 posts)
16. Some of these people seem to think it is their own money!
Sun May 1, 2016, 05:55 PM
May 2016

I have to say, I have been very fortunate in Oregon. This state does it right and the workers really seem to try and respect their clients.

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