The Line: Update On Food Benefits Court Case

June 3, 2016 – NM Political Report published a story this week on the legal team brought in to represent high level officials from the New Mexico Human Services Department in a federal case that includes allegations officials falsified food benefit applications in order to deny people emergency assistance.

The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty filed the court case on behalf of clients who were denied emergency assistance. A group of former and current workers in the Income Support Division allege they were told to falsify applications and add additional income. To qualify for emergency assistance, individuals must have less than 100 dollars in income and 150 dollars in assets.

The Line opinion panel discussed the case last month: Allegations Against HSD Officials

In the most recent hearings, one employee testified that the practice of falsifying applications goes back to at least 2003 , but she alleged it has increased in more recent years.  Read more at the NM Political Report: New allegations say food benefits falsification escalated in recent years

This week, host Gene Grant leads a discussion on the latest news about the case and what the public still doesn’t know.

Line Panelists:
Eddy Aragon, CEO,The Rock of Talk, Fox News ABQ 95.9 FM
Marsha Garcia, Strategies 360
Tom Garrity, Garrity Group PR
Viki Harrison, Common Cause New Mexico