Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations

A bill that would keep the U.S. government operating beyond the weekend appeared in trouble on Tuesday as lawmakers bickered over whether they had resolved policy issues such as abortion funding and travel to Cuba. The bill has been caught up in a year-end fight between Republicans and Democrats over taxes and spending that has left Americans watching a familiar scene unfold - both parties trying to outmaneuver the other to score points ahead of the 2012 elections. Continued at �.. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/13/us-usa-budget-idUSTRE7B72MK20111213

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The Hartford Courant Asks:� Is the food-aid scandal part of a culture of fraud in state government?

What do you think?� Click to Vote �. http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/todaysbuzz/hc-thursday-buzz-1208,0,7343849.story

Attorney: Delay Malloy Food Stamp Hearings� Officer Put On Administrative Duty� By CHRISTOPHER KEATING, ckeating@courant.com The Hartford Courant�� 8:58 p.m. EST, December 12, 2011� HARTFORD�� Insisting that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is rushing to judgment, an attorney is asking the state to declare a moratorium on all disciplinary hearings for state employees suspected of fraudulently receiving food stamp benefits after Tropical Storm Irene.� Rich Rochlin, who said he represents more than 10 state employees, says the state needs to order a comprehensive, independent investigation because his clients told him that food stamp benefits were distributed without any verification. His clients are arguing that they should not be subject to losing their jobs because they were unaware of the income limits in the program, which were not listed on the two-page application.�� Continued at �. http://articles.courant.com/2011-12-12/news/hc-state-employees-worried-1213-20111212_1_malloy-administration-state-employees-dannel-p-malloy

Hartford Courant

Food Stamp Fraud

For additional info on Food Stamp Fraud go to the end of this publication

Food Stamp Scandal Hints At Culture Of Cheating Among State Workers Dec 8, 2011� Hartford Courant� Sadly, the 15 state workers suspected of gaming the system to obtain federal food aid meant for low-income victims of Storm Irene might be just the tip of the iceberg.� This scandal undermines people's trust that government can honestly and competently administer programs funded by taxpayers.� Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is making the right noises about this disgrace. "The abuses of public trust involved go beyond simply lying about income," he said in a statement. "In some instances, people lied about assets under their control or even listed a deceased relative as living in the household. � These were not oversights or honest mistakes. This was outright fraud, and it will not stand."�� http://articles.courant.com/2011-12-03/news/he-ed-perez-benefits-20111203_1_unused-vacation-sick-time-sick-days

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MF Global Probe Said to Weigh Illegal Use of Funds �

Europe's Banks Seek Fresh Lending Cover

CA Revenue Shortfall to Trigger $1B of Cuts

Air Force Dumped Remains of at Least 274 Bodies in Virginia Landfill� A disturbing report from the Washington Post has revealed that the Air Force had dumped the "incinerated partial remains" of at least 274 American troops in a Virginia landfill, a figure much higher than the military initially let on, before stopping the practice three years ago. According to the report, 976 fragments from 274 military personnel were cremated, incinerated, and taken to the landfill between 2004 and 2008. There are still another 1,762 fragments that could not be identified. Continued at �.. http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/12/air-force-dumped-remains-of-274-plus-in-landfill.html

Will the budget cap bottle up Malloy's fiscal reforms?

By Keith M. Phaneuf CTMirror.org� In a parting shot from the last recession, the state budget spending cap will clamp down tighter over the next few years than at any other time in its history, state fiscal analysts are warning. But the cap no longer is the fiscal bogeyman it was when it was enacted two decades ago. And Gov. Dannel P. Malloy may have to choose between strict adherence to that arbitrary limit -- a principle his Republican predecessor did not follow -- and meeting other fiscal goals, particularly shoring up Connecticut's severely depleted pension systems. http://www.ctmirror.org/story/14720/malloy-may-have-choose-between-spending-cap-and-budget-reforms

House considers tougher trading rules for lawmakers | Video ...

Long-Term Jobless Eye Bleak Future As Unemployment Benefits End

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/11/long-term-jobless-eye-ble_n_1141780.html

White House Defends Embattled Regulator� Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko, Under Fire by Ryan Grim ryan@huffingtonpost.com� Huffington Post� Dec 13, 2011� �.. HuffPost reported on Monday that the lead organizer of the coup attempt had previously consulted for the firm that operates the Fukushima nuclear facility that melted down in Japan earlier this year. Continued at �.. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/13/nrc-bill-daley-stands-_n_1146032.html

NY�s Tax Overhaul, Said to Raise Taxes on the Rich, Actually ... Doesn't� Marian Wang, ProPublica: "The tax overhaul that New York state passed this week has been widely described in news reports as raising taxes on the rich and cutting them for the middle class - even as a win for Occupy Wall Street protesters and a possible blueprint for Congress. But perhaps New Yorkers need to take a closer look." Continued at �.. http://www.propublica.org/article/nys-tax-overhaul-said-to-raise-taxes-on-the-rich-actually-doesnt

Will Congress Ban Corruption in Its Midst?�
New York Times�� Dec 11, 2011� In a rare instance of Congressional bipartisanship, the Senate and House Judiciary Committees have quietly approved badly needed measures to tighten the anticorruption laws applicable to members of Congress. These laws have eroded across a decade of court decisions, and it remains to be seen whether the full Congress will tighten bans on fraud and bribe-taking by those in its ranks. With public approval of Congress in the single digits, the two houses would be wise to pass the Clean Up Government Act of 2011. The measure would strengthen the federal anti-bribery law that was considerably narrowed by a 2010 Supreme Court decision saying the statute covers only cases of outright kickback schemes, requiring proof of quid pro quo corruption. That lets conniving officials off the hook if they engage in undisclosed self-dealing � like quietly steering a valuable road plan through land they secretly acquired. Continued at �. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/opinion/will-congress-ban-corruption-in-its-midst.html?_r=1

Budget Director Worries About Health Care Costs, Asks To Delay Pooling �by Christine Stuart | Dec 13, 2011 12:08pm� Gov. Dannel P. Malloy�s budget director expressed reservations Monday about opening up the state employees� health insurance pool to municipal employees next month. Continued at �. http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/budget_director_worries_about_health_care_costs/

Recession expands Connecticut's pockets of poverty� By Keith M. Phaneuf�� The poverty rate for New Haven jumped by one-fifth during the last recession and now hovers close to 12 percent. In Hartford and Windham counties, the rates grew more modestly, but still reached 10 percent. And the pockets are starting to spread beyond their traditional centers. Continued at �.. http://www.ctmirror.org/story/14791/recession-expands-connecticuts-pockets-poverty

Supremes inject court into the 2012 campaign on health and immigration �By Justin Sink - 12/12/11 08:31 PM ET� The Supreme Court ensured a second major political controversy will be at the forefront of the 2012 presidential election on Monday when it announced it would hear a challenge to Arizona�s immigration law.� The court will hear arguments about the Arizona law in April and will issue a final decision in June, just two months before the national political conventions. The high court is also expected to issue a decision on President Obama�s healthcare law around that time.� Continued at �.. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/198939-supremes-inject-court-into-the-2012-election-campaign

Healthcare reform law's unsustainable CLASS Act gets reprieve ��Julian Pecquet�� 12/13/11 11:21 AM ET�� Republicans have given up on repealing the healthcare reform law's long-term-care CLASS Act this year, the repeal bill's sponsor told The Hill.� Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said the payroll tax package was the last chance to repeal the program before Congress adjourns, and that he had urged House leaders to include it � to no avail. He also said he'd shortly be introducing legislation to replace the program.�� Continued at �. http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/199025-health-reform-laws-flawed-class-act-gets-reprieve

Democratic Sen. McCaskill finds House defense bill riddled with earmarks� David Goldstein - McClatchy Newspapers� Dec 11, 2011 �.. Of the 225 amendments to the House defense authorization bill that McCaskill's staff reviewed, aides judged that 115 � totaling $834 million � were earmarks, based on several factors. These included how similar an amendment was to a previous earmark requested by the same lawmaker. To determine that, her staff reviewed the lawmaker's website and press releases, past defense bills and earmark databases maintained by government watchdog groups. Full report at� http://www.thestate.com/2011/12/11/2074924/democratic-senator-finds-house.html

Perez Nails Hartford For Unused Vacation, Sick Time �Dec 3, 2011 Hartford Courant� More Payments: Former mayor entitled to $71,000

It must stick in the craw of hard-pressed Hartford taxpayers that they have to come up with $70,947 to pay disgraced former Mayor Eddie A. Perez for unused vacation and sick time. How many ways can he stick it to the city?� Nonetheless, an arbitrator has found that Mr. Perez has the money coming for time he accumulated during his 81/2 years in office. It could have been (slightly) worse: The arbitrator, West Hartford Corporation Counsel Joseph A. O'Brien, rejected about $24,000 of Mr. Perez's claim, mostly for time he spent on trial for corruption charges last year. Mr. Perez posited that he was working as the mayor while he was on trial, so should be compensated for it as unused vacation time. Mr. O'Brien rightly concluded that Mr. Perez was otherwise occupied.

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/he-ed-perez-benefits-20111203,0,2077733.story

In Colorado, a Power Struggle Towards Moving to Municipally Owned Energy�� Kirk Johnson, The New York Times News Service: "Many Americans these days, from the huddled masses of Occupy Wall Street to the coifed confines of the presidential campaign, are talking about the future of capitalism. Here, that debate is focused on electricity, specifically whether this city should, in Tuesday�s election, sever its relationship with a corporate utility and move toward a home-ruled, municipally owned one that would be environmentally greener and locally accountable." Continued at �.. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/us/boulder-seeks-to-take-power-from-the-power-company.html?_r=1

Top New York Foreclosure Law Firm Threw Homeless-Themed Halloween Party�� What the Costumes Reveal - NYTimes.com� Article at �.. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/opinion/what-the-costumes-reveal.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1323806400-/b2+Cfj/idw98XxrZRGAxg

Premier�s Actions in Iraq Raise U.S. Concerns �By JACK HEALY, TIM ARANGO and MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT� NYTimes� Dec 12, 2011� Night raids and mass arrests come as the United States prepares to leave Iraq, leading Western officials to question the country�s course under Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.�� Continued at �. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/world/middleeast/arrests-in-iraq-raise-concerns-about-maliki.html?ref=todayspaper

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Maryland, Virginia at top of nation for food stamp fraud ...

By: Hayley Peterson and Brian Hughes | 11/30/11� Examiner Staff Writer

Few cases prosecuted as enrollment soars� Maryland ranks second and Virginia fifth in the amount of taxpayer dollars wasted on food stamp fraud. For every $100 in benefits, Maryland gave out $6.11 to people who weren't eligible -- amounting to about $60 million, according to fiscal 2010 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Virginia gave out $5.04 to ineligible recipients, or about $70 million, and the District ranked 21st, doling out $3.76 in overpayments. The national average was $3.05.� Continued at �.. http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/11/maryland-virginia-top-nation-food-stamp-fraud/1962111

CONNECTICUT FOOD STAMP PROBE�..

The following is additional information on the Food Stamp Probe implicating State Employees.

Note that the State of Connecticut�s transparency website transparency.CT.gov provides you with the ability to research the salaries of all state employees to include their benefits and pensions.��

Example:� Within the following Hartford Courant news article captioned Trooper Who Earned $124,000 A Target Of Food Stamp Probe� you have the ability to research the Trooper by name to determine not only his salary but benefits which are all highlighted on the State�s website as follows:� �

Department of Public Safety,� Jimenez,Noel� Salary & Wages $124,435.47, Fringe� Benefits $64,362.30,�� Total $188,797.77

If you click on his name, it will give you a full breakdown of his wages of $124,435, which include Salaries & Wages-Full Time $62,249.09; Longevity Payments $327.00; Overtime $54,385.86; Differential Payments $1,642.56; Meal Allowance $5,830.96.

When visiting this website, you can research by individual name or department.� For example, if you wanted to see all State employees paid in fiscal year 2011, you would go to http://transparency.ct.gov/html/searchPayroll.asp, then click Advanced Search.� Next you would determine what department you may wish to access by clicking the arrow next to Agency.� If you wanted to research others in the State Police, you could go to Department of Public Safety, and click on Search.��

You can also download data through the following website �..� http://transparency.ct.gov/html/downloads.asp

You can also access vendor info and more through the State�s transparency website.�� If you have any questions, please contact Susan Kniep at 860-841-8032

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Trooper Who Earned $124,000 A Target Of Food Stamp Probe� A 13-year state police trooper who earned more than $124,000 last year is among the state employees � including three other troopers � under investigation for allegedly filing a fraudulent food stamp application following Tropical Storm Irene.� Noel Jimenez worked an overtime shift at a state Department of Social Services satellite office in Norwich in September. The investigation will center on whether Jimenez filled out a form to get federal funds through an emergency food stamp program known as D-SNAP (Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), sources familiar with the investigation said. His earnings would have disqualified him from receiving aid.� Read more...

State Police Union Reacts To Fraud Accusations | 12/12

9 More State Employees Suspected Of Fraud, Governor Says

D-SNAP probe intensifies - NewsTimes� Ken Dixon, Staff Writer December 11, 2011 About 800 state employees were among the 23,726 households accepted for D-SNAP. An unknown number, which DSS investigators are closing in on -- and which should be clarified this week -- misstated their income, assets and/or dependents. At least one claimed a dead relative was alive and hungry.� For a few hundred dollars, these state workers have put their careers and families in jeopardy. They are in danger of losing their secure state jobs and facing criminal prosecution, with the possible loss of state pensions.� It's the first real scandal of the nearly year-old administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. It emerged after the familiar name of a state employee jumped out at a DSS auditor late last month. �Continued at �.. http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/D-SNAP-probe-intensifies-2395791.php