(Michael M. Santiago/Getty)
A group of New York state Senate Republicans is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to immediately commission an independent audit of state social service programs, citing “disturbing reports” and warning that weak oversight may have allowed significant misuse of taxpayer funds.
In a letter dated Jan. 2 addressed to the governor at the State Capitol, lawmakers raised alarms over alleged misuse of public funds tied to sham child care centers and other illegitimate entities exploiting taxpayer-funded assistance programs.
The senators warned that vulnerabilities in New York’s oversight systems could allow fraud, waste, and abuse to flourish unchecked…