Who bears responsibility for waste and fraud in government programs

Currently, there is a lot of conversation regarding waste and fraud in the social services safety net area of government. Republicans are waging a war on health care, SNAP benefits, food banks, child care, public education, Social Security, student loans and anything else that seemingly supports folks who are in need.

I have no doubt there are people who cheat or game the system. I support the idea they should be held accountable if they are breaking the rules.

Gaming the system is something truly worth talking about. I do not believe anyone truly supports the idea it is OK to cheat, lie or make false accusations to get ahead. Unfortunately, that does seem to be human nature. If you lack the ability to succeed or the competition is too tough, then you find a way to bend the rules.

We have seen it in sports: stealing signs, flagrant fouls. We have seen it in the stock market: insider trading. We have seen it in education, paying a bribe to get preferred admissions, and, of course, in politics: Watergate, good old-fashioned mudslinging, name calling, innuendos — the list goes on.

So let’s talk about Ohio, specifically about waste and fraud in the aforementioned social services area. There is a lot of accusations regarding Democrats being to blame for waste and fraud in Ohio — waste and fraud by enabling Haitians in Springfield, waste and fraud by enabling Somalians in Columbus, and more locally waste and fraud by enabling Guatemalans in the Dover-New Philadelphia area.

Our local JFS has a big sign that says if you see or suspect waste and fraud, call it in. Again, I am sure somebody somewhere has gotten services they did not deserve. However, I would like to point out some facts that seemingly have been overlooked.

Since 1992 Republicans have held the Ohio Senate, Legislature and governor’s position. The exemptions would be in 2007-10 when we had a Democratic governor and 1992-94 and 2009-10 when we had a Democratic House. The Republicans have had control of the Senate from 1992-2026. It would seem if we were going to lay blame for waste and fraud on a party, perhaps it should be the Republicans.

Larry Householder (R), a former Speaker of the House, and State Chair Matt Borges (R) were convicted of a $60 million bribe scandal. This is considered the largest scandal in state history. Householder and Borges are trying to get out of jail.

The scandal itself was a $1.3 billion bailout of nuclear power plants. The company (First Energy) spent millions of dollars in the 2018 election supporting state senators and house representatives so the Republicans could maintain control at the state level. An increase in electricity rates was the result.

Republicans controlling the state on most levels, I would have to conclude they are the ones who have enabled waste and fraud.

Ed Gallagher

Coshocton