SENATOR BADDOUR LAUDS GOVERNOR’S WELFARE FRAUD INITIATIVE

SENATOR BADDOUR LAUDS GOVERNOR’S WELFARE FRAUD INITIATIVE

Hopes to Collaborate Further with Patrick Administration and Auditor Bump to Eliminate Fraud

January 25, 2012 –Governor Patrick's 2013 Budget Proposal includes funding for a new Welfare Fraud Prevention Unit within the Bureau of Special Investigations, a division of the Office of Auditor Suzanne Bump.

“I applaud Governor Patrick for taking this much needed, proactive step towards ensuring that our state’s public benefit system is helping those who need it and routing out those who are obtaining benefits fraudulently,” said Senator Baddour.  “We must ensure that our taxpayers have confidence that their tax dollars are going to those who genuinely need a hand up in these difficult economic times.  I look forward to collaborating with both the Governor and Auditor Bump on making additional changes to the way the welfare system is currently administered and working hard to ensure that my proposals to ensure the integrity of the public benefits system are enacted quickly.”

While the Bureau of Special Investigations currently investigates complaints and reports of welfare fraud, under Governor Patrick's proposal, the new unit will analyze data to proactively prevent and stop fraud on it own initiative.

The Bureau of Special Investigations has existed for three years and has seen a return of $2.50 for every $1 spent on investigations, identifying over $13 million in fraud over the past three years alone.

...

Click here for the full story

Baddour Named Massachusetts Municipal Association Legislator of the Year

MUNICIPAL LEADERS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS
HONOR SENATOR STEVEN BADDOUR AS LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR

January 21, 2012 - The Massachusetts Municipal Association has recognized State Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) as a distinguished “Legislator of the Year” based on his record of accomplishment for cities, towns and local taxpayers during the 2011 legislative session.  Sen. Baddour, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the powerful Senate Ways and Means Committee, was presented with the award at the municipal association’s annual awards ceremony on January 21, 2012, before a crowd of local officials from across the state.

“This has been a very positive and productive legislative session for cities and towns, including passage of municipal health insurance reform legislation, the most important reform law to benefit cities and towns in the past 30 years, and local officials across Massachusetts deeply appreciate that Senator Baddour served as a strong, vocal, visible and very effective leader on this key issue,” said MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith.  “The new law will save cities and towns, taxpayers, and municipal employees millions of dollars a year, all while guaranteeing high quality health insurance for local workers and preserving countless jobs for teachers, police officers, firefighters and other key municipal employees.” 

In announcing the award, Natick Selectman Josh Ostroff, the President of the MMA, stated that “in addition to municipal health insurance reform, Senator Baddour’s remarkable record during the 2011 session contains many other acts to benefit the communities of Massachusetts...

Click here for the full story