Political rumors

While much of the state is fascinated with the U.S. Senate race on both sides of the aisle -- frankly, we're disgusted with it already and are sickened by the lack of quality among the front-running candidates -- we are hearing some interesting political rumors on other races.

One rumor we've heard is that an incumbent state representative, who's getting a challenge from within his own party in the primary, may be in some trouble. The incumbent has written several letters on behalf of criminal defendants, including one sex offender who re-offended not long after being let out on shock probation. This isn't setting well in the community. We're also hearing that school politics may come into play in this race, since the challenger is the brother-in-law of a school board member who's in a bit of legal trouble and blames the superintendent for causing it.

Another rumor involves one of the statewide races next year. One officeholder, a former collegiate athlete, may be contemplating a run for governor. And in the opposing party, another ex-college athlete and current officeholder may be rethinking possible plans to run for governor because he doesn't want certain things about his past to become known. We also hear that he used to date the daughter of yet another officeholder from a nearby county, but the young lady broke up with him because of those past habits. This past has been alluded to over the years by posters on other blogs, but we never put much stock in those tales until now.

We're not quite sure how this all would impact the incumbent. We're not sure that the rumored challenger would be any great threat, but the one who's rethinking plans has been all but inaugurated by many political pundits who like to post comments to blogs.

We're still not sold on the notion that Greg Stumbo won't run, however. We just hope that his opponents won't be as gun-shy about using his past against him as they have been in the past.

Exclusive: Fraud and abuse by food stamp recipients

With the debate over yet another federal unemployment extension taking place in the Senate, and with recent news that the number of families receiving food stamps (now formally called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is on the increase, we were alarmed when we heard of a growing system of food stamp fraud that is helping fund the purchase of illegal drugs in parts of rural Kentucky, especially the eastern mountains.

The scheme goes something like this: Food stamp recipients purchase large quantities of soft drinks with their food stamp benefit cards. They then sell this pop to retail outlets for cash at a cost significantly lower than the retailer has to pay the drink distributor. The retailer sells the pop again, and the individual who sold the pop uses the cash to buy drugs. Apparently this is a very popular and common scheme (or scam) in many areas, yet we've never seen anything in the press about it or any law enforcement activity centered on the practice.

We're outraged and offended by this scam on many levels. First, it's preposterous that soft drinks are even eligible for purchase with food stamps. At a time when soda pop is coming under fire from nutritionists, and WIC recipients are limited to purchasing store brand milk and other dairy products over name brand products, it's hard to believe that soft drinks are on the eligibility list for food stamp purchases. We couldn't believe it, but we looked it up and soft drinks are not on the list of prohibited items. Indeed, one state tried six years ago to get the federal government to allow it to make soft drink purchases ineligible for the food stamp program, but that request was denied.

What would we like to see done about this debacle? First, it's time that Congress passes a law making soft drinks ineligible for purchase with food stamps. There is absolutely no logic in having the taxpayers subsidize the consumption of something that not only has no nutritional value, but is considered detrimental to good health by many.

Next, it's time for a crackdown on this fraudulent practice. Until such time that soft drinks are made ineligible for the program, limits should be imposed on the amount of soft drinks that can be purchased with SNAP benefit cards. Surely there is a way to track purchases and to deny payment for any pop purchases beyond a certain level.

Years ago, it was common to hear that a business that had made improper food stamp sales was suspended from participating in the program. This was usually a stiff punishment for the business because many rural stores depend on food stamps for a large portion of their revenue. If stores that accept food stamps are found to be buying soft drinks from SNAP recipients and paying cash for them, their food stamp sales privileges should be suspended or revoked.

Finally, the individuals who are doing this should be punished. Food stamps are meant to provide nutritious meals to needy families. Individuals who buy pop and then sell it for cash to buy drugs are taking food off the table for their families. This fraudulent practice should be dealt with severely. This also helps subsidize the illicit drug trade that plagues our state and claims so many lives.

Even though this seems to be a popular and growing scam, we have yet to read or hear anything about it in the media. If any media representatives are viewing this (and we know at one time that you did read this blog), this is fertile ground for a blockbuster story. Start asking around in the rural areas of the state and see what you uncover. And we challenge other bloggers who read this to link to it and spread the word to help end this abhorrent practice.