A key part of bringing the federal budget under control is stronger punishment for fraud in our social programs. Too many people are taking advantage of gaps in the system and collecting benefits they don’t qualify for. We need penalties that are actually enforced so anyone caught abusing the programs faces a real consequence.

Two short examples:

• Someone works for cash under the table and still draws SNAP and Medicaid as if they have no income.
• A person claims children or household members who don’t live with them in order to get a larger benefit.

Close those gaps and make the penalties stick, and you stop a costly leak that taxpayers are covering.