After Somali fraud scandal, VA Democrat pushes bill killing oversight of nonprofits

A Democratic Virginia lawmaker is backing a bill that would ban the state from verifying a nonprofit’s eligibility to provide and receive federal taxpayer benefits, a move that comes as scrutiny over the misuse of taxpayer funds continues to intensify. The introduction of House Bill 1369 by Virginia Democratic state Del. Jessica Anderson came in the wake of a massive fraud scandal involving nonprofits in Minnesota and amid pressure by the Trump administration for states to enact better oversight of how taxpayer money is spent.

“No state agency responsible for the administration of federal funds shall impose a requirement on a nonprofit charitable organization providing a federal public benefit to determine, verify, or otherwise require proof of eligibility of any applicant for such benefit