(Laurie Johnson/KUHF Public Radio)
Local officials hope rampant welfare fraud takes a hit in Harris County as a result of a new initiative that offers cash rewards for tips that lead to public assistance crooks.
It’s the first program of its kind in the nation. Crime Stoppers will hand out cash rewards for tips that lead to people who are getting public assistance illegally. The partnership between Crime Stoppers, the Harris County District Attorney’s office and several government assistance agencies is meant to crack down on widespread welfare fraud in Harris County. District Attorney Pat Lykos says it’s about more than just the actual fraud.
“It’s not just the theft and the deprivation of the people who are truly in need and the cheating of the taxpayers, it’s where this money goes and how it goes into organized criminal activity. And so you have this anti-social behavior that’s being financed with our tax dollars.” (See the full story at KUHF Public Radio)
OTHER HEADLINES:
- Many Jobs May Be Gone With The Wind Energy Credit (Texas Tribune)
- Texas Drought Has Likely Killed Over 5 Million Urban Trees (State Impact Texas)
- Texas House Education Chair Asks for Delay Of STAAR Rule (Texas Tribune)
- UH-Downtown Ends Open Admissions (Houston Chronicle)
- Michelle Obama Urges States to Follow Texas’ Lead and Help Military Spouses (Houston Chronicle)
- Many Nonprofit Leaders See Flat Spending for Charities in 2013 Federal Budget as Good News (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
OPINIONS OF NOTE:
- Robert Samuelson: Obama’s Budget Guts The Government (Washington Post)
- Editorial: Houston’s Congressional Delegation Needs To Pull As a Team (Houston Chronicle)