Lawsuit over Texas food stamps backlog

[sonias]

AAS 12/18/09
Lawsuit over Texas food stamps backlog

AUSTIN, Texas — The state's lingering backlog of food stamp applications has led to a lawsuit by a legal aid group in south Texas.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in Austin names the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid seeks a decision for seven specific families, plus asks for a court order to force the agency to meet required 30-day processing deadlines.

Bless TRLA for sticking up for the poor. :hug:

More costs in the continuing saga of the failure of Texan Republican leadership.:grr:

Older thread here:
Federal officials: Texas could lose food stamp funds if problems aren't fixed

Sonia

[white cloud]

1. Just making Texas

the worst in the Nation.

[GOPisEvil]

2. I remind you of the not-so-distant past yet again.

I started working for HHSC back when it was the old DHS in 1992. Back then, we had timeliness issues, but no major accuracy issues. Over time, that changed. It changed to the point that I was able to cash several bonus checks. Those bonuses came from the Federal Government for excellence in timeliness and accuracy. This was all done on a mainframe computer system that was held together by duct tape and baling wire. By the time I left in 2005, we had merged in to HHSC and we had been down the road to replacing the computer system (which didn't work and cost a crapload - and was awarded based on Republican insider dealings). Also just starting as I left, privatization. Talk about your boondoggles. Let's pay kids out of college 10 bucks an hour to process these applications. With the increase in efficiency from our computer system (which makes ALL the decisions, but, um, doesn't work) we can rid ourselves of those pesky, expensive state employees. So, lots of smart, well-trained employees left, afraid they'd be forced out. Well-trained employees that had gotten federal performance bonuses in the past.

That leads us to where TX is now. Good luck.

[white cloud]

3. Next thing you know

it will be offshored to India.

[sonias]

4. The Rs would do that in a heartbeat

They hate government jobs - good paying jobs that middle class wage earners really like. So they spend lots of time trying to destroy that sector.

Not to disparage India however. They are an emerging country with millions of young educated and talented people. Plus they are the world's largest democracy. Just saying when the Indians become our overlords, we need to be nice to them. :)

Asia will regain it's dominate position in the world.

Talks Hans Rosling: Asia's rise -- how and when
TED talk Nov 2009
Hans Rosling was a young guest student in India when he first realized that Asia had all the capacities to reclaim its place as the world's dominant economic force. At TEDIndia, he graphs global economic growth since 1858 and predicts the exact date that India and China will outstrip the US.

Hans Rosling is a statistician. Really good talk. They take over the world in 2048, btw.

And if you just like Tech geekly stuff - this one is amazing. This could be our future - sixth sense tech.
Talks Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology.
:wow:

Sonia

[white cloud]

5. Wow

Looks like Issack Asimov days are already here. Interesting video.

[sonias]

6. I likey!

I want my sixth sense device now!! Or at least I want to live to see it really developed in the real world. No more carrying heavy laptops or even cell phones! This will connect the whole world.

Sonia

[hobbit709]

7. I wonder who the unrec fairy was.

[sonias]

8. Perry trolls

You know we got'em.

:hi: Hobbit. Hope your run to East Texas went well. Nice to have you home. :hug:


Sonia