Feds Order State to Halt New Welfare System

The Associated Press is reporting that a federal official has told the state to halt any further rollout of its automation of welfare eligibility because it is taking too long to process and approve food stamp applications. The federal Food and Nutrition Service has ordered the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to delay any further rollout of the welfare changes until it improves its timeliness in processing applications. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson says Governor Daniels and his administration have ignored complaints from people who’ve had problems with the new welfare eligibility system. At last report, neither the Governor’s office nor the Daniels campaign had responded to Thompson’s criticism.