Michigan House Republicans are demanding a rigorous inspection of a taxpayer-funded cash assistance program for new mothers, aggressively questioning its benefits and sounding the alarm over how millions of dollars are being spent.The scrutiny boiled over during a June 2 House Oversight Committee hearing, where GOP lawmakers targeted "Rx Kids"— an initiative billed as the nation's largest city-wide cash aid program for prenatal and infant care."I think there was a belief that there was this small pilot program that was going to be done right," House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep.Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, said during the hearing.
"When I realized that there was a $250 million allocation to Rx Kids … and you find out that it's really not a prescription drug program for kids, it's a cash giveaway, then you realize that maybe we need to look at this a little harder."The intense debate over the merits of the program has been escalating for months.House Republicans previously characterized the measure as a "cash for votes scheme." In an interview with local media following last week's hearing, DeBoyer went further, claiming the program is actively "tracking voter data of individuals who receive benefits."ALBUQUERQUE USES WEED TAX TO FUND 'NO-STRINGS-ATTACHED' GUARANTEED INCOME, SPARKING POLICY DEBATEThe Michigan Capitol is seen, May 24, 2023, in Lansing, Michigan.
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, has also slammed the initiative, previously labeling it "a scam."Republicans ramped up their oversight during last week's hearing, which featured tense testimony from Rx Kids founder and director Dr.Mona Hanna-Attisha.
Lawmakers lobbed a barrage of questions at the director, ranging from the viability of eligibility requirements and steep administrative overhead to whether illegal immigrants are accessing the funds."No state funds go to undocumented immigrants — none," Hanna-Attisha testified.DeBoyer argued that ...