Developing: Pakistani Plane Escorted by UK Fighter Jets — 2 Men Arrested

Doc Thompson’s 24-hour radio marathon, ‘#24forok,’ continues until 9 am ET — Listen Live!

Business

People with $7K Worth of Food Stamps? The State Where This Is Happening Might Surprise You

Feb. 25, 2013 10:16am Becket Adams

“Should there be a limit on how much tax payers dollars can be given to someone on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program?” Texas’ KGBT 4TV asks in an investigative report on possible food stamp abuse in the Rio Grande Valley.

“One valley man was outraged after finding out how much money some people on government assistance are getting,” reads the report. “Action 4 News uncovers just how many people are on SNAP in the Valley and how much money they are getting.”

The report was helped along by a gas station clerk who had grown tired of seeing customers make enormous purchases with their Lone Star cards. In some cases, he says, people would show up and have a balance of at least $7,000 on their cards.

“There are times I see customers come in and they’ve got thousands,” “Bob,” who spoke on condition of anonymity, told KGBT 4TV.

“[O]n an average day he sees about 10 different people all with over $2,000 in food stamps, who report to the government they cannot make ends meet,” the report notes.

“But they’re driving Mercedes,” he adds.

“Bob” says he tried calling a few government offices to notify them of the amount of money being distributed to food stamp recipients but was told nothing could be done about it.

So the local news team looked into it.

“I had never heard of this issue until you brought it to light,” State Representative Terry Canales told KGBT 4TV.

He added that a $7,000 surplus is “extremely concerning. Reaching these balances is obviously not in the best interest of the state and the people that have these balances its questionable as to whether they need the assistance.”

“According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, there are more than 238,000 people on SNAP in Hidalgo County, costing tax payers more than $28,000,000 dollars this month alone,” the report notes.

“For Cameron County, 119,000 people are receiving assistance, at a $13,000,000 cost for February,” it adds.

“Where’s this going? What’s wrong with this picture?” Canales asked.

After the above investigation aired, Canales said he is “considering an audit on those accounts.”

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Featured image screen grab.

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (287)

Carlinpa
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:13pm
“questionable as to weather or not they really need it” ? How about It’s OBVIOUS that these people do not need it!
Another feckless attempt at a solution,( oh wait, he is a democrat m what a surprise) auditing the accounts to see when they have gone over any amount they determine will only motivate ( finally) the individual to sell off there balance!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
americanchristiansoldier
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:09pm
According to the math the average participant in both counties is receiving a little over $100, so there is obviously a few scamming/defrauding the system. Startling however is that in both counties 35%-42% receive the stamps. Curiously both counties are 90% Hispanic.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
coyote1hell
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:07pm
The POSOTUS said..I’m cool wid dat…buys another 20,000 vote in dat county alone…yepppp..

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Carlinpa
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:06pm
Hidalgo County, roughly 30% of the pop is on Gov assistance? oh please..This has to end!! A FNC affiliate no less, did a story on food stamps, the reporter was towing the party line by showing just how little a person could buy with roughly $5 a day. I took from it that they were certainly try to down play how much a person receives.. It was the worse one side expose i have ever seen on a local station.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DebateMe
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:05pm
“I had never heard of this issue until you brought it to light,” State Representative Terry Canales told KGBT 4TV.”

This quote is exactly why small government is a necessity. First of all, that response by Terry Canales is a lie. And even if we entertain the notion that his response is not a lie, then he is incompetent and should resign.

His job is to have situational awareness of all things Texas and not blunder about NOT knowing something that is painfully obvious to a gas station operator and pretty much anyone else with eyes and ears and the other 3 senses.

CEOs that blunder about NOT knowing basic trends in their company don’t last long as CEOs because the marketplace quickly takes care of incompetence. But in government, incompetence rules the day especially with a dumbed down, doped up, and distracted electorate.

Shame on this guy for lying to our faces. And shame on him if we take him at his word for being obtusely detached.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
paperpushermj
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:05pm
After the above investigation aired, Canales said he is “considering an audit on those accounts.”
_________________________.
.
DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH WATING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
bumfuzeled
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:02pm
Don’t give money, credits or anything else that can be hoarded, traded or given away. The Lone Star Card should allow the purchase of the essentials, bread, milk, ground meat, fruits and vegetables. One helping per week with a 2 month limitation/year. Nothing would spur our economy more than a little hunger. Stop the other benefits to those that have not earned them and let charity help the infirm.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
freenj
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:00pm
So, I guess moving to Texas isn’t a great idea, if indeed, they have this kind of fraud taking place with a food stamp program.
I have heard Wyoming or Idaho might be a good place to migrate to?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
SciPro
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:59am
That’s the strategy … bankrupt the nation, and then control their people. You have Gov. representatives .. if you care about what’s happening … war on America from the Social Progressives and their crowd, then you have to act … don’t let your Gov. Reps have any peace, .. until common sense is restored!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Jack76
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:54am
Food stamp fraud?
Welfare fraud?
How could it be?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Apo
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:50am
Awesome, with all the talk about gun registration and media agencies posting maps of lawful gun owners why hasn’t anyone done a Freedom of Information Act request on registered foodstamp recipients to do a public audit of our safety net..

I think i’ll start one now for my local area and see what happens.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
another pucker
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:46am
That is $117 per person in Cameron county and about $109 per person in Hidalgo county per month. What’s up with that how does that get over $2,000 on your fricking REPARATIONS card! ARGHHAsskldjfn iew ovdf!!!!!!! I been telling this crap to anyone who would listen to me for years and they, good conservatives, were like “Oh that can’t be happeining”! “You can’t get it if you don’t need it”

XOXOXO

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
bankerpapaw
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:43am
This government is not on the right track. It has totally derailed and gone off the bridge. We penalize
those who are successful and reward (those mentioned in this story) those who refuse to work and
we supply weapons systems to those who hate us. The United States of America has absolutely the
most stupid politicians in the world.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- freenj
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:10pm
  Amen to that!
  
  Report this comment
searcher619
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:41am
Oh SNAP!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
shorelineliz
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:39am
Why Democrats are in Power. As for the GOP? Get off your lazy A$$e$ GOP! Oh wait? We can’t fight against the POOR. We will look BAD! USA Government is ROTTEN TO THE CORE!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
KGAZ
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:36am
I have “conservative” friends that proudly brag about getting assistance. One, in the army. Her husband was promoted and she’s on Facebook bragging how they still qualify for food stamps. People have absolutely no shame anymore.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RaydocX
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:34am
yet the social media leftist sheeple insist Conservatives are mean for opposing welfare.
in point of fact, most Conservatives don’t oppose welfare for short periods for people who truly need it.
This administration is intentionally expanding the pool of recipients for use as a voter base, NOT to help those truly in need.

My son almost every shift has stories about the people who spend their WIC checks on groceries clearly not just for children, and not healthy foods that should be the first priority, and then whip out cash to pay for alcohol and cigarettes in amounts that rival what was spent on groceries. Or who get snotty when a cashier has to check about whether a purchase is allowed. The utter lack of humility for people on the dole is astonishing to him, and i think is providing a nice buffer from his more priviliged friends going to college with no real world work experience, being indoctrinated by the ‘Conservatives are mean’ professors.

It may cost some politicians their jobs, but in addition to protecting the 2nd Amendmend, Congress has got to put the brakes on who gets aid and for how long. People seeking aid should expect to provide proof of their need, and to have to liquidate assets that are gratuitious… Mercedes, vacation homes, sports cars, investment property, etc.

There is finite money, which needs to be used appropriately for the most possible, not wasted on a few.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Krutch
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:32am
State rep says “concidering audit” ……Then what? Cover it up? How about making these theives prove the hand outs are justified. And then keep them in the sights so they don’t keep scaming the system. Dollars would be better spent that way than just throwing hand fulls into thin air.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
matamoros
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:29am
I live here in the border, and I can tell you it is insane. You just have to shut your eyes and your mind to this rampant abuse, or otherwise you’ll blow a gasket. These takers can, and do, drive around high-end vehicles such as SUVs, and Mercedes, because most of their daily and monthly living expenses are paid by you and me. They have the Lone Star cards (ie. food stamps), CHIPS (insurance), Medicaid, cell phones, Section 21, govt housing, WIC, rent and utility subsidies, and Lord knows what else.

Do you know, that Brownsville ISD is on record (District Administrator Magazine) of having over 2000 students from the bordering town of Matamoros, Mexico!!! They actually send buses every school day, to pick them up, and drop them off at the International Bridge!!!! McAllen ISD, as well as most if not all border Districts have a significant amout of students from Mexico. Of course you and I have to foot the bill. Is that insane?

By the way, not hating on Mexicans, I am Hispanic of Mexican descent, but I’m AMERICAN (and taxpayer) first baby!!!

And just try reporting this fraud – waste – and abuse to these bureaucracies that give away our money. They don’t want to know anything about it. They might offer to give you some number that you can dial, but that’s all they can do.

“BEEN THERE DONE THAT”!!!!!

I’ve proposed solutions to help end this madness on this forum, but they don’t get posted, so I won’t try again. I’m not sure what that’s

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Elena2010
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 3:53pm
  And I suspect that most Americans of Latin American descent feel the same, but we have to listen to La Raza make more noise that a battalion of Marines at PT.
  
  Report this comment
dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:29am
next to the border, what do you expect.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
another pucker
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:28am
This is not even the half of it people! It’s not that the balance shouldn’t get that high it’s that most of these people shouldn’t be getting it. When I say most I mean 80% probably are scamming this nations hard working people! I lived in El Paso for a few years, ’88-’91, and I guarantee you that most of Juarez is getting food stamps. This government doesn’t check crap when it comes to verifying this stuff, it keeps them in jobs! Anyone receiving government handouts should be public knowledge, we should be able to know who we give money to. A former co-worker of my husband, his wife’s job is being out sourced to Taiwaiin or somewhere, the people being laid off are getting 120 weeks of unemployment! And we are going to pay for her to go to Vet Tech school. This is such CRAP!!!!! My head is going to explode!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DAYWATCHER
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:23am
Audit the program now! Someone has obviously learned how to scam the system. I will be calling my state rep today! Time for a hard look at this program!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RodT82721
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:21am
Our problem is one of our own making. We allow our elected officials to pave their way to re-election with our tax money.
Most elected officials have no concern for the use of tax money, it’s a means to buy votes, so the more they can get out into the market place the more votes they hope to garner next election.

I hold our public education system, most at fault for teaching our children to adore our government over their parents, and never, ever, question a government official.
We did that folks!
Every local school district has a local elected board, and we put those people in charge of our public schools. They could change it, but they didn’t and now the unions elect the members.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- searcher619
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:52am
  The day we got on the path to financial and social ruin was the day our elected officials figured out they could bribe the voters and finance spending we couldn’t otherwise afford. I hope this house of cards come crashing down soon. I feel that is the ONLY thing that will wake the people up.
  
  Report this comment
dublinthewagons
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:21am
Hidalgo county is one of the fastest growing counties n the U.S. 797,810 population with over 238,000 on food stamps. 30% that is a crime. How many illegals are on the program? Send’um home packing. Cut all assistance to the county until this mess is cleared up.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
JTX
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:13am
Idiots, They BETTER stop that nonsense!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.