ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) — With Maryland staring down a projected $1.4 billion budget deficit that state analysts warn could deepen in the coming year, scrutiny is intensifying over how effectively the state protects taxpayer dollars from fraud and abuse.
The questions have grown louder amid the national fallout from a Minnesota fraud scandal that federal prosecutors say could exceed $9 billion. Facing backlash, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said Monday he will not seek a third term.
Though Minnesota fraud investigations have been ongoing for years, allegations exploded into public view late last month after media outlets and citizen journalists began documenting what appeared to be daycare centers operating largely on paper — licensed, publicly funded, but allegedly without any children in the buildings. Federal investigators have said their probe stretches beyond child care and focuses more on several social services programs…