FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date: July 17, 2013
Contact: Lorraine Montoya-Vigil
505-986-4723
Who Really Pays the Price for Accountability?
Op-Ed Submitted by Sen. Michael S. Sanchez, Senate Majority Leader (D-29-Valencia)
This letter is written in response to the Albuquerque Journal’s editorial dated July 14, 2013 regarding my criticism of the Martinez administration’s decision to prevent millions of capital outlay dollars from moving into several rural local communities. As I stated in the op-ed I submitted on July 3, 2013 (that the Journal did not print and only partially quoted from), “…There is no question that every local and state entity must perform audits and be accountable for their budgets and financial affairs. But, the manner that the Governor is allowing DFA to carry out the requirements will hurt many small rural local communities desperate for jobs and economic boosts that capital outlay projects bring.”
Again, I have no issue in holding local and state entities accountable for their financial affairs. But this administration too often makes broad accusations, provides little or no information about the alleged improprieties, and then takes drastic steps to “correct” the perceived wrongs. The recent behavioral health fiasco is another example of the administration using a sledge hammer as its first tool of choice.
The Journal’s editorial provided examples of the consequences of not having completed, accurate or timely audits, but it failed to acknowledge the impact the administration’s actions will have on the people dependent on the facilities or services not being funded. Withholding capital outlay funds may encourage a local government to remedy an audit finding, but it definitely will not build a badly needed health care clinic in Cimarron. And suspending behavior health funding may prevent fraud, yet it will not provide services for the developmentally disabled, mentally ill, or addicted members of our communities. That begs the question: who is really taking the brunt of the punishment?
There appears to be a double-standard when it comes to taking action against those not performing audits when the “wrongdoer” is part of the administration. It is my understanding that the Department of Corrections (Corrections) has not conducted an audit of its contracts for medical services for several years. That means Corrections pays a private company millions of dollars every month without knowing if health and psychiatric care is being provided according to medical standards, if at all. Unfortunately, it is not only taxpayer money that is in jeopardy; it is also the health and safety of inmates and guards that are at risk. Although the administration has been aware of the situation for several years, it has yet to bring out its sledge hammer or even its feather duster.
The Journal’s editorial ended by stating withholding capital outlay funding is “a small price to pay” for “safeguarding public funds”. But what is the price for safeguarding the health, safety and lives of those being punished?
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