Tracy: Illinois Democrats Finally Admit SNAP Fraud After Months of Denial
SPRINGFIELD — Democrats in the Illinois Senate have filed legislation requiring the state to transition from magnetic stripe EBT cards to more secure smart chip cards after acknowledging widespread fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
According to lawmakers sponsoring the legislation, most SNAP fraud in Illinois occurs through criminals skimming magnetic stripe EBT cards. Bill sponsors, Sens. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago), Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) and Rachel Ventura (D-Chicago), say nearly 90,000 fraudulent SNAP transactions could be prevented by upgrading the state’s outdated system.
The proposal comes from four of the state’s most far-Left Democrats after months of their party insisting that there are no problems with fraud in Illinois' welfare programs.
“For months, Democrats insisted fraud in SNAP wasn’t a serious problem,” Tracy said. “Now four of the most liberal members of the Illinois Senate are admitting that tens of thousands of fraudulent transactions could be prevented with basic safeguards that should have been in place years ago.
“Welfare fraud is a serious problem. SNAP exists to help families who are struggling to put food on the table. Every dollar Illinois loses to fraud is a dollar taken away from a struggling family and a hardworking taxpayer.
“If we want to lower the cost-of-living for everyday Illinoisans, we need common sense leadership that prioritizes accountability, protects taxpayer dollars, and makes sure programs actually help the people they’re intended to help. I’m glad some Democrats in Illinois finally seem to agree. Illinois’ working families deserve more of this.
Don Tracy is available for phone, video, and in-studio interviews on this issue.
About Don Tracy:
Don is Senior Counsel at Brown, Hay & Stephens, the oldest law firm in Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln famously practiced law for four years. Public service is important to Don, with a lifetime spent in community service, most often in volunteer positions. He has served as Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, Chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board, Secretary of the Illinois Bar Foundation, President of the Sangamon County Bar Association, Chairman of the Illinois Corporate Acts Advisory Committee, and President of the Abraham Lincoln Association, President of the Oak Ridge Cemetery Board, among other community leadership positions. Born in Urbana, raised in Mt. Sterling in Western Illinois, and having raised his own family in Springfield in Central Illinois, Don has deep ties to "downstate Illinois." As the oldest of 12 children, family has always been important to Don.