The Stupid Things Government Does
We’ve growled about many stupid things that governments have done. However, what Washington State just did may win the prize for downright stupidity. An Associated Press article in Washington State’s tricityherald.com newspaper and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports:
“The state of Washington sent out $1 checks to the 250,000 food stamp recipients in the state.
“The director of the Community Services Division for the Department of Social and Health Services, Leo Ribas, says the checks mailed Feb. 17 trigger an additional $43 million in federal food benefits. They also connect recipients to an energy assistance program.
“Ribas says the $1 check is a one-time move to leverage the federal money. He says next year the state will be able to trigger the federal assistance through a routine deposit in food stamp accounts.”
Add the other costs to the cost of postage, and it’s very likely the state of Washington spent more than $1 per check to mail out each $1 check. Let's hope the federal government is more efficient with the $787 billion so-called stimulus money.