Morrisey: Nearly Half Of School Voucher Funds Unaccounted For

Gov. Patrick Morrisey has launched an investigation into whether funds from the school voucher clothing program were actually used to purchase things other than clothes for kids.  

Morrisey’s office says almost half of the $11.4 million the state provided for back-to-school clothes was taken out in cash at ATMs.  

“Where Are EBT Dollars Really Going?” asks a brightly colored graphic on the governor’s office Facebook page.  

It shows $11,010,266 in total redemptions with 49.5% -- $5,453,989 -- taken out in cash withdrawals.  

“We know when you have cash cards, when you can go to an ATM and take money out, yes, there’s absolutely going to be problems with it,” Morrisey said. 

That cash, he said, could be used for anything. 

“I don’t want a penny of the money that should go for school clothing to be spent for cigarettes, to be spent for beer, to be spent for all these things,” he added. 

Senator Brian Helton, R-Fayette, chairs the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability which meets next Tuesday. He said the commission will hear from the Department of Human Services on this topic. 

“We’re going to call people in from the department to testify directly about this store clothing voucher program so we can do a real deep dive in front of our legislative committee,” he said. “And that way we’re doing all this out there where the public can see it. And we’re gonna keep going ’til we get the answers we’re looking for.”  

Helton said his health committee has been inundated with comments from citizens outraged that hard working taxpayers may be funding lifestyle choices rather than helping needy kids.  

“My constituents are just beside themselves. And I’ve been flooded with this feedback – and I agree with them,” Helton said. “I think West Virginians are some of the most generous people anywhere in the world. And we want to see needy children get taken care of, but they want us to make sure it’s being used for the children that it’s intended for and not for the convenience of the person using the benefit.” 

In addition to school vouchers, the commission is scheduled to hear from Attorney General JB McCusky on Medicaid Fraud and Commissioner Christy Donohue with the Bureau of Medical Services on Medicaid work requirements and implementation.