Tag Archives: food stamps

Now is not a good time for HHSC to be dysfunctional

Posted on October 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

And yet here we are. Under Charles Smith, the longtime ally of Gov. Greg Abbott picked to lead the state’s Health and Human Services Commission, Texas’ government health care infrastructure is hemorrhaging veteran employees and facing criticism for its response … Continue reading →

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Budget amendment time

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Now that Mayor Parker has formally submitted her proposed budget for fiscal year 2013, it’s time for Council members to submit their amendments for consideration. I’m going to start at the bottom of the story with the two proposals that … Continue reading →

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Progress on food stamps

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. With hundreds of new workers on board, Texas has dramatically improved its speed and accuracy processing food stamp applications, Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs [told] state lawmakers [last week]. But he’ll also tell the joint … Continue reading →

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Feds fine Texas for food stamp failures

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Our longstanding food stamp problems continue to cost the state of Texas millions of dollars. Federal officials have fined Texas $3.96 million for errors in issuing food stamp benefits, according to a letter sent to House Speaker Joe Straus. The … Continue reading →

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The food banks pitch in

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s great that they’re making such a difference. It’s a crime that it took so long and that the problem got to be so bad before they were called in to help. Last year, food banks had to step up … Continue reading →

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State auditor issues recommendations for fixing food stamps

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s about what you’d expect. The state agency that oversees Texas’ food stamp program is outdated and staffed by inexperienced workers, leading to long delays and inaccurate processing, said the state auditor in a report released Tuesday. “To improve the … Continue reading →

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Making money on both ends

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m glad to hear that the food stamp backlog should be cleared up soon. I’m not so glad to hear that one of the guys who bears responsibility for getting us into that mess in the first place now stands … Continue reading →

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Food stamp application backlog to be cleared by April

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a little bit of good news. Texas’ food stamp application backlog is now expected to be cleared by the end of April, Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs told lawmakers today. […] The commission had projected it … Continue reading →

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Food banks to help with food stamps interviews

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds like a good idea. Houston’s food bank will begin helping qualify eligible Texans for food stamps on Monday under special authority from federal officials designed to shorten long wait times. The waiver will allow food banks in Houston, … Continue reading →

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Those evil, dirty, federal dollars

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Perry loves ’em. Which of the following revenue sources has grown the most since Rick Perry became governor? A. Sales tax, driven by a strong economy. B. Natural gas production tax revenue, driven by a strong economy and the … Continue reading →

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More food stamps fail

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The dimensions of this failure are just staggering. Texas has the worst performing food stamp program in the nation, says the federal director who oversees the project designed to help desperate people get nutritious meals. Texas ranks last among the … Continue reading →

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State to audit food stamp delivery process

Posted on December 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Better late than never. Health and Human Services Commissioner Tom Suehs has asked [state auditor John] Keel to audit the food stamp program to improve accuracy and efficiency. “We must fix our system so that it works for everyone. I’m … Continue reading →

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Another food stamp lawsuit

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in August, a federal lawsuit was filed over the interminable delays that food stamp applicants face in Texas getting their forms processed. That suit was dismissed in October by Judge Sam Sparks on the grounds that the federal law … Continue reading →

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We’re not the only state with food stamp issues

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We all know by now that Texas has had many problems with its administration of food stamps. Apparently, so have other states, according to a letter, signed by Kevin Concannon, the department’s undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, sent … Continue reading →

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Easing eligibility requirements on food stamps

Posted on November 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose you could consider this to be a small benefit of the food stamps snafu. Texas is easing a requirement that most families on food stamps must be interviewed every six months, a step that will relieve pressure on … Continue reading →

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A slow solution is bad but no solution is worse

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Same song, yet another verse: The food stamp situation in Texas is truly terrible. As Texas begins hiring hundreds of food stamp workers to help erase an application backlog that has left families waiting months for aid, no one expects … Continue reading →

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The DMN on the food stamp situation

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s depressing reading these articles, but it’s important to do so, to really understand why we’re so screwed up. First and foremost, it’s an attitude problem. As in, the people who have the most power over it have the least … Continue reading →

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Monitoring the food stamps problem

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Sens. Judith Zaffirini and Tommy Williams will be keeping an eye on the food stamps situation. Zaffirini said in an interview that she and Williams will work with Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs on hiring more … Continue reading →

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Feds to Texas: Fix food stamps!

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yet another (bad) way in which our state has distinguished itself. Federal officials say Texas should appoint a food stamp czar to take charge of fixing the application backlogs and high error rates plaguing the program. “All states are feeling … Continue reading →

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State to grudgingly hire a few more food stamps workers

Posted on October 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t strain yourselves, fellas. State leaders announced late Friday that more employees will be hired to help process food stamp applications. […] “In these tough economic times, the state of Texas must do everything in its power to ensure Texas … Continue reading →

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Food stamps fail

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

News item: Budget board denies request for more food stamps workers. The Legislative Budget Board has denied a request from the Health and Human Services Commission to hire about 650 state workers to relieve the state’s food stamp enrollment system, … Continue reading →

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The continuing HHSC saga

Posted on September 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Most of what’s in this Chron story about the problems with the Health and Human Services Commission and its problems processing food stamp applications is stuff we’ve seen before. Just a couple of things to highlight: Some welcome a recent … Continue reading →

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More on food stamps lawsuit

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron now has a story about the lawsuit that has been filed over Texas’ inability to process food stamp applications in the federally-required 30 day time period. There’s not much in the story that we don’t already know, but … Continue reading →

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HHSC sued over food stamp delays

Posted on August 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This will definitely bear watching. Legal services lawyers for the poor have filed a class-action lawsuit demanding immediate repair of Texas’ much-criticized eligibility screening system for health and welfare programs. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Austin … Continue reading →

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