Missouri Recovers $2.5 Million for Taxpayers

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt's announced that his administration's most recent investigation into welfare programs saved $2.5 million by uncovering such schemes as shielding income from Medicaid claims and elaborate efforts to cheat the child care system. The announcement adds to the more than $150 million already saved as a result of the governor's commitment to improve efficiency and eliminate fraud and waste, according to a release by the Governor's Office.

The announcement adds to the significant savings already recognized throughout the governor's administration. For example, among other things:

• Blunt's crackdown on fraud and abuse identified $19.5 million in savings within the state funded child-care program for low-income Missourians. The savings allowed Blunt to expand care to nearly 3,400 children at no expense to taxpayers.
• Consolidations spearheaded by the governor in the state's information technology resources have improved efficiency and available expertise while saving taxpayers more than $1 million every year.
• The governor's call to eliminate waste is saving taxpayers more than $750,000 every year in natural gas costs.