Brian Shortsleeve for Massachusetts BOSTON, MA – Following the release of a Fiscal Alliance Foundation report detailing the scope of improper payments in Massachusetts' SNAP program and warning that taxpayers could face significant new costs under federal SNAP cost-sharing provisions, Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve today announced that, as governor, he will implement comprehensive front-end identity and eligibility verification for individuals and re-certification of all participating SNAP retailers to root out waste, fraud, abuse, and improper payments before taxpayer dollars are distributed.
"Massachusetts leads New England in SNAP spending and accounts for nearly 60 percent of the region's total SNAP expenditures. Now, because of the Healey administration's lack of oversight and one of the highest SNAP error rates in the nation, taxpayers could be on the hook for as much as $300 million a year. That's unacceptable. As governor, one of my first actions will be to implement front-end identity and eligibility verification for every SNAP applicant and re-certification of all participating retailers because once people know there's real oversight, this fraud will cease. We'll protect taxpayers while ensuring these benefits are there for the people who truly need them."
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