Whitman uses Times report to hit Brown

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GOP gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman is using this week’s Times investigation -- revealing that millions of dollars in state welfare money was spent or withdrawn in Las Vegas, Hawaii and even on cruise ships off the coast of Florida -- as a springboard to attack her Democratic opponent, Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown.

Whitman’s statement:

‘Jerry Brown has been asleep at the switch in the fight against welfare fraud and the abuse of taxpayer’s money. The LA Times has revealed that $69 million in welfare payments meant for impoverished families and children have been spent out-of-state in recent years at places like luxurious Hawaiian islands, Las Vegas casinos and cruise ships. This abuse of taxpayer dollars has happened right under Jerry Brown’s nose. Brown has used taxpayer resources to run for office and shamelessly chase headlines. After multiple investigations into celebrity overdoses and children’s bouncy houses, Brown’s inability to police this type of wide-scale abuse is unacceptable. It’s not enough for Brown to simply show up and grandstand after the taxpayer has been ripped off.

My approach to this type of abuse stands in sharp contrast to Jerry Brown’s: I have outlined a plan to empower Californians with a grand jury to investigate and fight fraud in the welfare system and protect the taxpayers who are ultimately on the hook for Sacramento’s failure to act.’

[Updated at 12:20 p.m.: Brown campaign spokesman Sterling Clifford said Whitman’s charges reflect ignorance of how state government operates. ‘Once again, Meg Whitman is showing how little she knows about how the system works,’ Clifford said. ‘The Department of Social Services investigates welfare cases, referring them to the attorney general for prosecution following an administrative process. Perhaps if Ms. Whitman wants to be governor, she should take a moment and learn what each branch of government does.’ ]

-- Evan Halper in Sacramento