Wos watch continues in Raleigh
Published September 20, 2014
by Chris Fitzsimon, NC Policy Watch and NC SPIN panelist, September 19, 2014.
Another week, another set of problems identified at the state Department of Health and Human Services. This time it is a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture questioning DHHS oversight of the state’s food stamp program.
The letter cited problems in the state’s employment and training program, lack of monitoring in the claim management process, problems with reporting and record keeping, and even potential fraud.
That is quite a tight ship that Sec. Aldona Wos is running over there. The next thing you know she will be signing multi-million dollar, no bid contracts, offering personal service contracts to executives with her husband’s company and having key personnel flee the department and not be able to replace them.
Oh wait.
The letter from the feds came the day after Wos appeared before a legislative panel and boasted about the progress the department was making in many areas, including the administration and oversight of the food stamp program.
The Winston-Salem Journal quoted Republican Rep. Donny Lambeth saying that the latter was “very disappointing” and that it was becoming difficult for lawmakers to accept the “verbal updates” from Wos.
Lambeth is the latest lawmaker to express concern about the way DHHS is being run. It is clearer every week that Wos has lost the confidence of many members of the General Assembly from both parties. One of the few people in Raleigh who continues to claim she is doing a good job is the person who appointed her, Governor Pat McCrory.
